Don’t rock the BN boat – MP

KUCHING: Saratok MP Tan Sri William Mawan warns that those wishing to contest in the constituency in the coming general election must not do so at the expense of the Barisan Nasional (BN) support base.

He says a strong support base is the key factor in ensuring the winnability of the chosen BN candidate.

“The claim of right to contest by any party should not be unduly played up to the detriment of unity and stability,” he said yesterday.

Mawan was responding to a political gathering organised last Saturday by Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) at Rumah Jabu, Nanga Senulau in Krian, led by its president Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, during which nominees for the Saratok seat were introduced.

During the gathering, a PDP leader had reportedly said the party wanted to wipe out Mawan's influence and support in the area, but added the move would contribute to breaking up the BN support base.

In response, Mawan claimed he is already a member of a BN component party and that he will announce it at the appropriate time.

With regards to PDP's interest to contest the Saratok seat, he said it should be done with proper decorum without upsetting the existing support base of BN in the constituency.

“On the issue of direct candidacy in the polls, it is still the prerogative of the BN chairman, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, and in consultation with the state BN chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, because its (BN direct candidacy) mechanics cannot be ruled out to resolve issues in any constituency,” he said.

Mawan went on to point out that he had a good crowd turn up to meet him at a function organised at Saratok Resthouse last Saturday, including eight Penghulus and 201 longhouse chiefs.

He said: "Even if they (PDP) feel they must take over the seat, they should have contacted me first instead of trying to dislodge me or wipe out my influence in Saratok. I am not the opposition. I am not your enemy. I am the custodian of BN Saratok entrusted by the BN.”

“We must not only talk about the right to contest on a BN ticket, but also whether we have the support base to win the election.”

In the 2013 parliamentary election, Tan Sri William Mawan won Saratok for BN as a thenSarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) candidate.

However, he quit SPDP in 2014 to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

In the 2016 state election, Mawan defended his seat of Pakan as a BN direct candidate.

He won by a slim majority of 426 votes.