Mawan unfazed by lobbying for Saratok parliamentary seat
SARIKEI: Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, the incumbent MP for Saratok, is unfazed by lobbying activities carried out by several individuals aspiring to become Barisan Nasional’s ( BN) candidate in the upcoming general election.
When asked for his reaction on the lobbying in the constituency before he proceeded to attend a dinner gathering in Saratok recently, Mawan said that it was anybody’s right to make any move to make their way into politics.
“This kind of scenario is common everywhere especially during election fever. At the end of the day only one, considered as the most ‘winnable’ candidate would be picked by the top leadership,” Mawan said.
Mawan who once again expressed his readiness to defend the seat for the BN, said that he would be seeking from the constituents for another five years to deliver the development projects which they had planned together.
Besides, he would make use of the five-year term to reconsolidate the BN’s support-base to ensure everything was in order when the time came for him to pass the baton to his successor, he said.
Although he is technically not a member of any BN party since he left SPDP, he has fully subscribed to the BN’s cause and struggles, Mawan said, stressing that his loyalty towards BN has never wavered under whatever circumstances.
One of the ways in that direction he was considering was to help members of Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak ( Teras) be officially reinstated or registered as BN members preferably through their former party Sarawak People’s Democratic Party ( SPDP), said Mawan, who also considered it as a way to help SPDP leadership to regain the party’s strength.
Mawan stressed that the move was his sincere consideration to help strengthen BN before he steps down from active politics and he was hoping that SPDP would be able to find a mechanism not only to readmit former members but also the fence sitters and members of opposition parties who had joined Teras.
Consistent with his desire to step down at the end of the next parliamentary term, Mawan said that he was not interested in any position in the party he once led.
Mawan also believed that it was his loyalty which earned him the trust and confidence of the top BN leadership to defend Pakan seat in the last state election. He was very grateful that the true ‘blue’ BN supporters were with him to deliver the seat despite facing tough challenges from within and the opposition.
Loyal BN supporters in Saratok were appreciative of the services he had delivered during his first term as their MP and has every reason to continue working with him to ensure continuity of Saratok’s progress, said Mawan who spearheaded Saratok to win the Best Parliamentary Constituency Award for the state of Sarawak in 2014.
On the same premise, Mawan hoped those aspiring to become candidates to always put BN’s interest above self especially when they were anticipating a tough challenge from the opposition in the upcoming 14th general election.
BN aspirants should be mindful not to tarnish the image of BN in whatever manner as such action would be advantageous to the opposition.
“By working closely within the BN system, those aspiring to be candidates, be it for Adun or MP can expect to enjoy the full force of BN’s strength when their time come,” Mawan assured.
During the function Mawan presented MRP grants totalling RM30,000 to Parents Teachers Associations of SMK Saratok, SMK Bahasa Malaysia and SK Mudong.