After weeks of silence, Mas Gading Member of  Parliament Anthony Nogeh Gumbek today declared that he is staying put in  Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

He made the announcement after meeting more than 200 of his grassroot leaders and supporters at SPDP headquarters in Kuching today.

“We have decided that I should stay put in SPDP... and I am staying put for the reason that I want to remain as Barisan Nasional (BN) MP.

“I want to continue my struggle as BN MP from SPDP. SPDP is  still a component party in BN and, therefore, I am still a BN MP through SPDP and, as such, I am not joining the other side (Parti Tenaga Rakyat  Sarawak),” he told a press conference after the meeting.

Asked on his personal relationship with former SPDP president William Mawan, who is now in Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), Nogeh described the state social development minister as a very good boss.

“He used to be a very good boss. I respect him as a leader and as a mentor and in fact he was the one responsible to bring me into politics.

“I am still his good friend and don’t be surprised I play golf with him but, of course, when he joined another side I don’t share the ideology.

“I only can say that I wish him all the best and I am still his  good friend,” said Nogeh.

Nogeh said he wished Mawan and the others who had joined Teras all the best, adding that he had no quarrel with them.

He also denied that most of the party leaders in Tasik Biru and Opar branches had left SPDP to join Teras, adding that both Tasik Biru chairperson Michael Siten and Opar chairperson Ryan Narong were present at the meeting.

To another question, Nogeh said he believed it was still BN’s principle that if any BN component objected to Teras joining BN then the  party would not be accepted in the fold.

- Bernama