Teras eyes more seats in Sarawak state election
Sarawak People's Energy Party (Teras) is eyeing more seats in the coming state election to add to its present five.
Its five seats are Tasik Biru, Pakan, Marudi, Bekenu and Batu Danau.
"We are expecting to keep all five seats and also pushing for more. We have capable people whom we have groomed all these years," TERAS president and state Social Development Minister William Mawan said.
The assemblymen won their respective seats on the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)-Barisan Nasional ticket in the last state election but switched to join Mawan in Teras.
Mawan, who is also the MP Saratok, said he was contemplating to give away his state seat of Pakan but would leave the matter to Chief Minister Adenan Satem.
Adenan is yet to name the candidate for Pakan, after earlier announcing that incumbent Rosey Yunus and Paulus Palu Gumbang would, respectively, defend Bekenu and Bukit Kota.
Mawan (
photo
) said the chief minister probably wanted to be thoroughly sure of his decision.
"It has to be announced anyway and it is entirely up to the chief minister to pick who should represent BN in the seat, including my own son," he told reporters today after presenting minor rural project grants totaling RM718,000 to 32 non-governmental organisations, including sports bodies.
Mawan mentioned earlier that his son was among several young potential candidates he had groomed to contest the seat for BN.
On speculation that he would be taking up a federal cabinet post, he said it was the prerogative of the prime minister and the chief minister to decide on that.
"I don't want to pre-empt but I have serious intention now to give away my state seat and concentrate on my parliamentary seat. But it is still up to the chief minister to arrange," said Mawan.
Pressed further on the federal cabinet appointment, he replied, "I need a job and income for survival. I am not a businessman."
Meanwhile, he expressed confidence that Teras' incumbents Sylvester Entri Muran and Peter Nansian Ngusie would be renominated to defend Marudi and Tasik Biru.
- Bernama
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