Sarawak polls: SPDP leaders hold emergency meetings
BY STEPHEN THEN
File pic of SPDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (right) talking with Datuk Henry Harry Jinep (left) during a meet-the-people gathering in Bau. Looking on is Mas Gading MP Anthony Nogeh Gumbek. – ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
MIRI: The top brass of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) are holding emergency meetings over the manner in which they have been 「muscled out」 of state constituencies that traditionally belonged to the party.
SPDP divisional chiefs state-wide are meeting with party president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and SPDP supreme council members in the various cities and towns.
SPDP is a Sarawak Barisan Nasional component party.
On Friday night, a meeting was convened in Bintulu, while on Sunday, an emergency supreme council meeting will be held in Sibu, The Star has learned.
Tiong and the party’s office bearers are gathering to discuss the latest developments after the state seats of Bekenu, Tasik Biru, Meluan and Batu Danau were given to Barisan direct candidates from Teras, while the new seats of Samalaju and Mulu were handed to direct candidates linked to Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB).
Teras (Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak) was formed by former SPDP leaders who quit the party two years ago following internal leadership disputes.
Teras has declared itself as Barisan-friendly.
Earlier this week, Sarawak Barisan chairman Tan Sri Adenan Satem named Teras leaders as candidates for several state seats that had previously belonged to SPDP.
Adenan said these direct candidates would be able to join any Barisan component party or Barisan-friendly party after they win the May 7 polls.
An SPDP source said that Tiong is in Bintulu with party leaders to discuss the allotments, adding that there is a danger that instead of the 10 state seats SPDP was supposed to get, as many as six may be given to Teras.
「SPDP have been very loyal partners with BN at state and national level.
「We don』t deserve to be given such poor treatment.
「Those seats that traditionally belonged to us should be given back to us.
「Adenan did not inform us in the SPDP before he named Teras leaders as BN direct candidates for those seats that belonged to SPDP.
「We are stunned and very disappointed,」 he said.
He added that the next course of action would be discussed at the emergency supreme council meeting in Sibu.