The state Barisan Nasional (BN) decision to ignore component party Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party's (SPDP) choice of candidate for the Be'Kalalan by-election has raised the question of who calls the shots in the fledgling party.

There was little secret that SPDP president William Mawan ( photo ) and his colleagues prefer the Miri-based Lun Bawang dentist Dr Bob Baru and had lobbied for him up to the last minute.

But Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud ,who chaired a state BN special meeting on Saturday, had apparently made up his mind to field Nelson Balang.

A SPDP leader, who asked not to be identified, said Taib did not even bother to listen to Mawan on this matter and had claimed that Prime Minister and federal BN chief Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had agreed with the choice of Balang

He was said to have told Mawan that Baru was "too close to the Tajem faction in Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS)".

Later, at a press conference, Taib ( photo ) showed reporters the letter signed by the prime minister nominating Nelson, 48, the former private secretary to the late Dr Judson Tagal, the Be'kalalan incumbent who died with six others in a helicopter crash on July 12.

The chief minister said that, as a former aide to the late politician, Balang was familiar with his work and the constituency.

This has irked many SPDP leaders and its deputy president wondered aloud as to whether a certain state leader "is greater than god" in making decisions for the party and people.

Grassroots sentiments ignored

According to another SPDP leader, there has not been a single call from the ground urging the party to nominate Balang.

"But we received a lot of calls suggesting many other names, all professionals from the Orang Ulu community," he said.

Several disappointed Miri and Kuching-based Orang Ulu professionals, mainly from the Lun Bawang community, have been meeting privately to discuss whether or not they should field an Independent candidate as a "silent protest".

"We are not short of prospective candidates who are professionals with great calibre," said one.

Publicly, Mawan has described Balang as "BN's best choice" and that it was inevitable that anyone who had not been chosen would naturally be disappointed.

Sources said factors that led to Nelson being picked included his close association with certain top state BN leaders, especially in Taib's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB).

He is said to have been personally recommended by PBB treasurer and state Industrial Development Minister Awang Tengah, an influential aide of the chief minister.

Political observers generally agree that the ineffectual leadership in SPDP has been displayed in BN's choice of candidate.

"You can't blame some people for saying that SPDP is an extension of PBB," said one.

"If SPDP continues to be unable to exercise its right as a component party on issues such as this, it can expect the departure of some professionals who joined recently. It could also see a decline in public support when the state elections come around (by September 2006)."

Snap's candidate

Meanwhile, a press statement issued by Sarawak National Party (Snap) secretary-general Edmund Stanley Jugol this afternoon said it had finalised its choice of candidate for the by-election.

It added, however, that it would only reveal the candidate's name on nomination day which falls on Sept 9.

A party sources told malaysiakini : "The candidate is someone who can beat or give the BN a run for their money."

Snap president Edwin Dundang flew in from Miri where he resides to Kuching this morning to attend a special party meeting together with some advisors to finalise their choice.

There is also a speculation that an Independent candidate will take on the BN.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.