KUCHING: Speculation is rife in Kuching about the formation of a new coalition government between Pakatan Rakyat and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) together with the Dayak-based parties of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).
Altogether they have a simple majority of 36 seats including a seat held by an independent. Thirty-five seats are held by PBB in the 71 seats in the state assembly.
The rumours sparked off after PRS President James Masing called for closure of Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and its members join PRS as well as his call for the merger between his party and SPDP be sped up in order to strengthen the voice of the Dayak community.
Even DAP national adviser Lim Kit Siang called for the merger of SNAP and DAP.
Dayak leaders in the non-governmental organisations have expressed strong support for this new coalition.
They suggest that Masing be made the chief minister of the new coalition, while Baru Bian from PKR and Chong Chieng Jen of DAP be made deputy chief ministers.
Top Pakatan Rakyat leaders including Anwar Ibrahim, PKR President Wan Azizah and Deputy President Azmin Ali and Lim Kit Siang will be in Kuching this week-end.
According to a message from the State PKR headquarters, a special announcement will be made.
What is this special message is all about no one really knows, but many suggest it could be connected to the discussion on the formation of the new coalition.
Said a political observer: “This is the real reason why Abdul Taib Mahmud swore himself as chief minster soon after the results that the state BN government had just obtained its two-thirds majority.
“He has envisaged that this type of coalition may be formed in order to get rid of him as chief minister,” said the observer.
Leaders of the PRS, SPDP, SUPP and Pakatan Rakyat are not available for comment.
Showing posts with label merger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label merger. Show all posts
Friday, April 22
Tuesday, February 23
Is SPDP’s Shield going to be broken?
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) is heading towards a big trouble when five of its elected representatives and three members of the supreme council are abandoning the party and are applying to join Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), another member of the Barisan Nasional (BN).
The five are State Assemblyman for Tasik Biru, Peter Nansian, the State Assemblywoman for Bekenu Rosey Yunus, the State Assemblyman for Marudi, Sylvester Enteri, State Assemblyman for Batu Danau, Paulus Gumbang and the MP for Mas Gading Dr. Tiki Lafe and three supreme council members – George Garai, Peter Gani and Eda Egar.
They want to join PRS under the pretext of merger so that their “transfer” to PRS will be smooth. More are expected to join them. The “group of eight” is aptly applying the SPDP principle – "Sapa Pedis Dulu Pansut".
But SPDP deputy president Peter Nyarok in a statement today has taken to task the group led by Datuk Peter Nansian for acting on their own accord without the sanction of SPDP for hastening and negotiating the merger with Parti Rakyat Sarawak.
“The group needs to be reminded that SPDP has already appointed a committee under my chairmanship,” Nyarok said, stressing that the committee has to work jointly with the committee from PRS to discuss and chart out the roadmap for the merger.
The chairman of the PRS’s appointed committee for the merger was the late Datuk Dublin Unting Ingkot and is now replaced by Dato Billy Abit Joo.
The joint-committee, co-chaired by the two chairmen, has met three times and to date it has shown progress, although a lot more areas have to be covered and resolved.
“The wishes and views of party members at branch and divisional levels must be taken into account and respected before any major decision such as the proposed merger can be made.
“SPDP wishes to reiterate that no individuals or groups other than the appointed Merger Committee are authorized to speak or negotiate on matters relating to the merger on behalf of SPDP.
“Those refusing to comply with this procedure are deemed to be acting on their own accord and SPDP does not recognize their action,” said Nyarok.
”It must be acknowledged that the merger is a complex and tedious process as it involves looking into the interests and sentiments of leaders and members of both political parties.
The five are State Assemblyman for Tasik Biru, Peter Nansian, the State Assemblywoman for Bekenu Rosey Yunus, the State Assemblyman for Marudi, Sylvester Enteri, State Assemblyman for Batu Danau, Paulus Gumbang and the MP for Mas Gading Dr. Tiki Lafe and three supreme council members – George Garai, Peter Gani and Eda Egar.
They want to join PRS under the pretext of merger so that their “transfer” to PRS will be smooth. More are expected to join them. The “group of eight” is aptly applying the SPDP principle – "Sapa Pedis Dulu Pansut".
But SPDP deputy president Peter Nyarok in a statement today has taken to task the group led by Datuk Peter Nansian for acting on their own accord without the sanction of SPDP for hastening and negotiating the merger with Parti Rakyat Sarawak.
“The group needs to be reminded that SPDP has already appointed a committee under my chairmanship,” Nyarok said, stressing that the committee has to work jointly with the committee from PRS to discuss and chart out the roadmap for the merger.
The chairman of the PRS’s appointed committee for the merger was the late Datuk Dublin Unting Ingkot and is now replaced by Dato Billy Abit Joo.
The joint-committee, co-chaired by the two chairmen, has met three times and to date it has shown progress, although a lot more areas have to be covered and resolved.
“The wishes and views of party members at branch and divisional levels must be taken into account and respected before any major decision such as the proposed merger can be made.
“SPDP wishes to reiterate that no individuals or groups other than the appointed Merger Committee are authorized to speak or negotiate on matters relating to the merger on behalf of SPDP.
“Those refusing to comply with this procedure are deemed to be acting on their own accord and SPDP does not recognize their action,” said Nyarok.
”It must be acknowledged that the merger is a complex and tedious process as it involves looking into the interests and sentiments of leaders and members of both political parties.
“It is a process that cannot be forcibly hurried by some individuals who fail to see the big picture and are not able to operate according to the order and discipline of their party,” he said.
Background to the crisis
It is indeed a pity that SPDP which broke away from Sarawak National Party (SNAP) in 2002 is facing a similar problem – all due to big towkays. During SNAP’s crisis, the “gang of nine” as the group was then known walked out from a CWC meeting when the meeting decided to expel Tiong King Sing from the party. Ironically, the “gang of nine” who was unhappy with the decision to expel Tiong was led by William Mawan who later formed what is now known as SPDP.
This time the “Group of eight” was not happy with the party president’s decision to replace Sylvester Enteri with Nelson Balang as secretary-general after the president did not honour his promise to maintain status quo in the party prior to the party’s triennial general assembly. Initially Balang refused to accept the appointment, as he knew that his appointment might cause a split in the party. But after a week of persuasion, he finally agreed.
It was also understood that the president wanted Kilat Briak, a prominent lawyer who hails from Saratok to be appointed as secretary-general. But Nyarok vehemently opposed it as he did not want Kilat to be too strong in the party. Nyarok does not want Mawan to groom Kilat to replace him in the Krian constituency. Nyarok, the sources said, wants his son-in-law to replace him perhaps in the coming state election.
But for the “group of eight” Enteri’s termination as secretary-general is a mere excuse. The problem in the party has been brewing up for the past one year or so especially when the president has allegedly failed to perform as a leader such as not keeping his promises made to some senior members of the party as well as not having a mind of his own; he listens too much to one man, the man who treated every member of the supreme council of the party as small children.
And during the last TGA, the man really showed his authority when he made decisions on behalf of the president such as deciding the list of the president’s men as well as the list of SPDP youth. When anyone questioned him, he shouted at him as if he was a beggar.
Mawan has been reminded about these insults, but he ignored them. Now he is paying the price of not listening to the party members. And the “gang of eight” has made up their mind to abandon SPDP and join PRS. They had first informed Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud. It is understood the two leaders seemingly agreed with their decision.
All the Dayak-based parties have shields as their symbols. And we have seen by now how the symbols of Dayak-based parties - the Shield of Sarawak National Party and the Shield of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) being broken; and how the Shield of Pesaka absorbed into Parti Bumiputra and how the Shield of PRS was almost broken. Is the Shield of SPDP going to be broken as a result of the current crisis? – The Broken Shield
Source: http://www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com/
Friday, January 15
Are Dayak leaders prepared to merge?
KUCHING – Are Dayak-based parties and Dayak leaders prepared to merge to form one single entity? Or do they dare to merge?
These are the questions posed by Tedewin Ngumbang, a supreme council member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak.
Writing in his blog, The Borneo Warrior, Tedewin said: “Dayak leaders in Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, Pesaka and Sarawak United People’s Party should come together and form a merged entity.
“Don’t think only about Dayak leaders in SPDP and PRS. James Masing, PRS president and William Mawan, SPDP president are not the only Dayak leaders.
“There are Dayak leaders in PESAKA and SUPP such as Alfred Jabu, Michael Manyin, Douglas Uggah, Alexander Nanta Linggi (all from PBB), Jerip Susil, Francis Harden, Ranum Mina and Richard Riot from SUPP,” he said.
“I challenge them if they dare to come out from their respective parties and form a bigger union of Dayak party.
“If this can be done, the Dayaks can become a very strong and formidable political force and can afford to choose whether to support BN or PR,” he said, urging PESAKA which forms the Dayak branch of PBB since January 1973 to detach itself from PBB and join the merger.
“Are they daring enough to come together and form one single party?’ he asked.
Tedewin, a confidant of Masing, made those remarks after a PBB leader poking fun at PRS and SPDP over the merger between the two parties.
The merger proposal was suggested by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud four years ago in order to strengthen the Dayak political unity and struggle.
But until now the merger remains an illusive dream as both sides are rather hesitant on the move.
Few issues need to be solved such as the question of leadership and Chinese membership in the new entity.
SPDP did not discuss the merger issue during its last month’s triennial general assembly.- The Broken Shield
Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com
These are the questions posed by Tedewin Ngumbang, a supreme council member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak.
Writing in his blog, The Borneo Warrior, Tedewin said: “Dayak leaders in Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, Pesaka and Sarawak United People’s Party should come together and form a merged entity.
“Don’t think only about Dayak leaders in SPDP and PRS. James Masing, PRS president and William Mawan, SPDP president are not the only Dayak leaders.
“There are Dayak leaders in PESAKA and SUPP such as Alfred Jabu, Michael Manyin, Douglas Uggah, Alexander Nanta Linggi (all from PBB), Jerip Susil, Francis Harden, Ranum Mina and Richard Riot from SUPP,” he said.
“I challenge them if they dare to come out from their respective parties and form a bigger union of Dayak party.
“If this can be done, the Dayaks can become a very strong and formidable political force and can afford to choose whether to support BN or PR,” he said, urging PESAKA which forms the Dayak branch of PBB since January 1973 to detach itself from PBB and join the merger.
“Are they daring enough to come together and form one single party?’ he asked.
Tedewin, a confidant of Masing, made those remarks after a PBB leader poking fun at PRS and SPDP over the merger between the two parties.
The merger proposal was suggested by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud four years ago in order to strengthen the Dayak political unity and struggle.
But until now the merger remains an illusive dream as both sides are rather hesitant on the move.
Few issues need to be solved such as the question of leadership and Chinese membership in the new entity.
SPDP did not discuss the merger issue during its last month’s triennial general assembly.- The Broken Shield
Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com
Sunday, July 13
PRS supreme council rejects merger
* When Abdul Taib Mahmud first mooted the idea of merger between Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) on 20 May 2005 during the launch of Miri as a city, both James Masing, PRS president and William Mawan, SPDP president responded positively. Describing merger as the “most logical conclusion for the Dayak-based parties to work together,” Masing said that he viewed SPDP as a very viable partner and it was just a question of time, while Mawan said that if they could merge, why not? “If it is for the good of the Dayak community why can’t we do it since we are both in the Barisan Nasional.
Taib was reported to have told the two leaders that their parties must merge into a single entity if they wanted to win in the coming State election. Their possible contender would be Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) now being processed by the Registrar of Societies. Taib must have realised that following the deregistration of Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), both were Dayak-based parties, SPDP and PRS have received cool response from the Dayak community. Taib also realised that the Dayaks were angry, because the authorities have deprived them of their only political vehicles especially PBDS which had 99.9% of its membership were Dayaks.
But Chinese leaders in SPDP and PRS called for caution, because any move to merge must be done with great care.
PRS deputy president, Sng Chee Hua said that if it were going to happen, somebody would have to make sacrifices as members would scramble for the top posts. “No doubt, there will be a bigger room, a bigger boat, but the question will be who will be its captain. But if it is for personal reasons, then we just forget about it. We don’t want to waste time fighting again,” said Sng.
Taib was reported to have told the two leaders that their parties must merge into a single entity if they wanted to win in the coming State election. Their possible contender would be Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) now being processed by the Registrar of Societies. Taib must have realised that following the deregistration of Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), both were Dayak-based parties, SPDP and PRS have received cool response from the Dayak community. Taib also realised that the Dayaks were angry, because the authorities have deprived them of their only political vehicles especially PBDS which had 99.9% of its membership were Dayaks.
But Chinese leaders in SPDP and PRS called for caution, because any move to merge must be done with great care.
PRS deputy president, Sng Chee Hua said that if it were going to happen, somebody would have to make sacrifices as members would scramble for the top posts. “No doubt, there will be a bigger room, a bigger boat, but the question will be who will be its captain. But if it is for personal reasons, then we just forget about it. We don’t want to waste time fighting again,” said Sng.
SPDP treasurer general, Tiong King Sing, expressed similar sentiments, adding: “There is no point to merge, if we have to quarrel over who should be the president and who should hold other important posts. There is no point to merge if at the end of the day, both sides get themselves embroiled in the fight for the top posts. If this is to happen, then why should we rock the boat?”
Understandably, both Tiong and Sng rejected the move as it would certainly deprive them of power and influence in the proposed party, especially when the solidarity of the Dayaks was being strengthened.
Many of Tiong’s Dayak supporters were not that keen at the idea of merger and they were annoyed with the way their president handled the whole issue.
Now three years have gone. Nothing has come out of it. But Mawan is still hopeful. In fact he is very keen to have the two parties merged. One theory is that Mawan is prepared to be the deputy president of the new entity and he is aiming to contest the parliamentary seat of Julau one day. He is hoping to replace Joseph Salang and eventually be made a Federal Minister. They say that the lifestyle in Kuala Lumpur suits his taste well.
But Masing has lately expressed caution and that the rationale for such merger must be fully understood by the grassroots. The “willingness must come from the grassroots and move upwards, and then the leaders must fit in the nuts and bolts of merging. A merged entity cannot be strong, nor will it last if the willingness to merge is formulated by the top leadership.”
Emerged from PRS supreme council meeting (on 5 July 2008), Masing had to use very polite and diplomatic words when he met the Press as he did not want to hurt the feelings of those who insisted that they must merge. What transpired during the meeting was the supreme council members were very vocal against the merger. It was outright rejection after they critically examined the pros and cons.
PRS’ rejection is understandable. Firstly, it has cleared itself of a leadership crisis that almost sent the party to the gallows. It is now solidly united especially after Joseph Salang, Aaron Dagang and other hardcore members of the demised PBDS had joined PRS. It is slowly and surely becoming a strong Dayak-based party with the ultimate aim of replacing PBDS. And why should they invite troubles and create problems by merging with a party that is heavily influenced by Chinese – a party that even asked MP Tiong King Sing to pay a bill worth RM8.00?
Secondly, PRS wanted to know the real reason why certain quarters insisted that PRS must merge with SPDP. Were they sincere? Or did they have a hidden agenda? “If it is to strengthen Dayaks’ unity, then it is only superficial as there are Dayak leaders in PBB and SUPP. They too must resign from their respective parties and join the new entity, if they really want to see the Dayak unity,” said a PRS supreme council member and added: “Only then there is a sense of talking about the Dayak unity.”
And the talk that the new entity would further strengthen BN “is also bullshit” as it would make no difference whether PRS and SPDP were to merge or not.
However, a PRS Supreme Council member said: -
Many of Tiong’s Dayak supporters were not that keen at the idea of merger and they were annoyed with the way their president handled the whole issue.
Now three years have gone. Nothing has come out of it. But Mawan is still hopeful. In fact he is very keen to have the two parties merged. One theory is that Mawan is prepared to be the deputy president of the new entity and he is aiming to contest the parliamentary seat of Julau one day. He is hoping to replace Joseph Salang and eventually be made a Federal Minister. They say that the lifestyle in Kuala Lumpur suits his taste well.
But Masing has lately expressed caution and that the rationale for such merger must be fully understood by the grassroots. The “willingness must come from the grassroots and move upwards, and then the leaders must fit in the nuts and bolts of merging. A merged entity cannot be strong, nor will it last if the willingness to merge is formulated by the top leadership.”
Emerged from PRS supreme council meeting (on 5 July 2008), Masing had to use very polite and diplomatic words when he met the Press as he did not want to hurt the feelings of those who insisted that they must merge. What transpired during the meeting was the supreme council members were very vocal against the merger. It was outright rejection after they critically examined the pros and cons.
PRS’ rejection is understandable. Firstly, it has cleared itself of a leadership crisis that almost sent the party to the gallows. It is now solidly united especially after Joseph Salang, Aaron Dagang and other hardcore members of the demised PBDS had joined PRS. It is slowly and surely becoming a strong Dayak-based party with the ultimate aim of replacing PBDS. And why should they invite troubles and create problems by merging with a party that is heavily influenced by Chinese – a party that even asked MP Tiong King Sing to pay a bill worth RM8.00?
Secondly, PRS wanted to know the real reason why certain quarters insisted that PRS must merge with SPDP. Were they sincere? Or did they have a hidden agenda? “If it is to strengthen Dayaks’ unity, then it is only superficial as there are Dayak leaders in PBB and SUPP. They too must resign from their respective parties and join the new entity, if they really want to see the Dayak unity,” said a PRS supreme council member and added: “Only then there is a sense of talking about the Dayak unity.”
And the talk that the new entity would further strengthen BN “is also bullshit” as it would make no difference whether PRS and SPDP were to merge or not.
However, a PRS Supreme Council member said: -
(correction: the statement below was not by Masing as reported earlier; error regreted)
“If the two parties are really serious about merger, then we must set our vision and the mission to accomplish the vision. Our agenda is more than the Dayak unity. The questions are: Are we brave enough to articulate the interests of the Dayaks? Are we brave enough to defend and fight back our NCR land that has been taken away from us, how the Dayaks have been marginalised in education, promotions and recruitments into the civil service, how we are being left behind in terms of development and being deprived of business opportunities?”
He said that those are the main issues that should prompt them to be merged into a strong political union.
* Source: Volume II of soon to be published, “The Broken Shield – The Dayak Dilemma”
* Source: Volume II of soon to be published, “The Broken Shield – The Dayak Dilemma”
Saturday, June 28
Will merger between SPDP and PRS bring about Dayak unity?
IN the last few weeks or so we have heard of Abdul Taib Mahmud, PBB president, George Chan, SUPP president, and Sim Kheng Hui, SUPP secretary general talking about merger between SPDP and PRS and it appears that they are so concerned about Dayak unity.
*Talks of merger resurfaced after the 8 March 08 parliamentary elections. The talks believed to have emerged on 7 May 08 during a coffee break after the morning session of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Council Negeri) meeting. James Masing was sitting with a PRS leader when Taib joined them. Also joining them were William Mawan and Dublin Unting. During this coffee break, Taib brought up the subject of merger between SPDP and PRS.
Masing was quick to ask Taib: “Sir, are you serious in seeing that the two parties merge?” Without hesitation, Taib replied: “Ya, ya, of course I am serious.”
Masing was said to be unsure of Taib’s intention following an earlier encounter with Taib when he (Taib) told Masing that Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem had not done anything when he was one of the deputy chief ministers in Taib’s cabinet. Masing could not understand why Taib mentioned Tajem to him. Could it mean that Tajem was useless and that PRS should keep away from him? And why did Taib keep on reminding them regarding the merger of the two parties to form a bigger union? Was he really sincere? These are some of the questions that PRS leaders are asking themselves.
In the absence of Chinese influence, PRS can become not only a strong rural based party, but can also become a very formidable Dayak party supported by people like Tajem, Salang and hardcore members of the defunct PBDS. The recently concluded parliamentary elections saw many hardcore members of demised PBDS led by Tajem lending support to PRS candidates resulting in comfortable victories by the six PRS candidates.
And by merging, the two parties will invite more troubles and create more problems for themselves. For example, the questions of leadership and the Chinese influence come to mind. Who should helm the new party? And what about Chinese members and influence?
*Talks of merger resurfaced after the 8 March 08 parliamentary elections. The talks believed to have emerged on 7 May 08 during a coffee break after the morning session of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Council Negeri) meeting. James Masing was sitting with a PRS leader when Taib joined them. Also joining them were William Mawan and Dublin Unting. During this coffee break, Taib brought up the subject of merger between SPDP and PRS.
Masing was quick to ask Taib: “Sir, are you serious in seeing that the two parties merge?” Without hesitation, Taib replied: “Ya, ya, of course I am serious.”
Masing was said to be unsure of Taib’s intention following an earlier encounter with Taib when he (Taib) told Masing that Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem had not done anything when he was one of the deputy chief ministers in Taib’s cabinet. Masing could not understand why Taib mentioned Tajem to him. Could it mean that Tajem was useless and that PRS should keep away from him? And why did Taib keep on reminding them regarding the merger of the two parties to form a bigger union? Was he really sincere? These are some of the questions that PRS leaders are asking themselves.
In the absence of Chinese influence, PRS can become not only a strong rural based party, but can also become a very formidable Dayak party supported by people like Tajem, Salang and hardcore members of the defunct PBDS. The recently concluded parliamentary elections saw many hardcore members of demised PBDS led by Tajem lending support to PRS candidates resulting in comfortable victories by the six PRS candidates.
And by merging, the two parties will invite more troubles and create more problems for themselves. For example, the questions of leadership and the Chinese influence come to mind. Who should helm the new party? And what about Chinese members and influence?
On the question of leadership, there are SPDP members who do not want Masing to take over because of his involvement in the deregistration of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak. Some senior members of SPDP are also interested in the leadership of the new entity. Similarly there are PRS members who do not want Mawan to be the leader of the merged party because of his personal characters. There will be leadership tussles and these will possibly lead to two or even three factions each to be headed by a president with separate supreme councils. Bickering is not good for the new party and for the Dayak community
The possible presence of Tiong King Sing, Larry Sng and Ting Pek Khiing in the new party frightens PRS leaders and members and may be not so much to SPDP. PRS leaders have seen how decisions in SNAP, PBDS, SPDP and PRS have been dictated by strong Chinese influence. PRS itself was almost deregistered due to the leadership struggle between Masing and Larry Sng. Currently it is trying to get rid of Chinese influence in the party.
Taib must have sensed that Masing and his party members were hesitant in forging the merger with SPDP. So once again Taib mentioned the importance of merger between the two parties, but this time around he mentioned it during an official function on 20 June and not over a cup of coffee as he did previously. He even saw beyond the merger of the two parties when he expressed the hope that the new entity would eventually join PBB to form a bigger union of Bumiputra party. ……. More to come..
* This article is taken from a chapter on PRS CRISIS of Volume two of THE BROKEN SHIELD. The book is due to be published soon.
Read comments from other blog >> What SPDP-PRS Merger?Grassroots Consulted?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)