Mawan scores sweet victory in Saratok
KUCHING: Barisan Nasional ( BN) managed to win Saratok, thereby dampening Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s ( PKR) dream of having a parliamentary seat in Sarawak’s rural area, thanks to the resilience, never- say- die attitude and charisma of its candidate Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom.
The win was against BN’s initial expectation as it had considered the rural constituency as black before naming its candidates for the 13th General Election.
With the win yesterday, Mawan, who is social development minister and Pakan assemblyman, had defied all odds and negative criticisms against him, including from so- called political analysts who had speculated that he was going
I have to start working right away as the people of Saratok have given me the mandate. The victory for BN also means that the majority of the people want uninterrupted development. Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, social development minister and Pakan assemblyman
into a losing battle in Saratok.
And as if adding insult to injury, Mawan’s closest rival PKR vice chairman Ali Biju even celebrated prematurely in the afternoon, claiming that BN was trailing PKR by more than 1,500 votes, mostly from the Iban- dominant Krian state constituency where Ali is assemblyman.
Thanks to the majority he obtained from the mixed constituency of Kalaka, the SPDP president was able to clinch victory over Ali.
When contacted yesterday, Mawan said: “I have to start working right away as the people of Saratok have given me the mandate. The victory for BN also means that the majority of the people want uninterrupted development.
“I thank the constituents of Saratok for the BN win.” Mawan’s candidacy was not without protest.
A day after the announcement of BN candidates, BN Saratok grassroots leaders including potential candidates Saratok incumbent Jelaing Mersat ( SPDP senior vice president), Chambai Lindong ( SPDP supreme council member) and Dr James Chela joined more than 300 others at Rumah Dayak Saratok hall to express their displeasure and anger over BN’s selection of Mawan.
Another potential candidate, businessman cum engineer Enturan Luta however kept his cool and decided to let his ‘ I love PM Club’ Saratok headquarters to be used by Mawan’s makeshift team of campaigners.
At the crucial time when Mawan needed them the most, almost all of Jelaing’s and Chambai’s campaign workers became turncoats and abandoned him.
Not to be discouraged by the last minute turn of events, Mawan and his loyalists started campaigning right away.
It was said that Mawan had no choice but to visit at least five longhouses and/or villages from nomination day until end of the campaign period as Jelaing and Chambai were not helping to canvass for support.
Yesterday, a facebook account holder was kind enough to post a photograph of Jelaing and Chambai holding aloft Ali’s hands as if to imply that Ali had scored victory.
Mawan garnered 11,600 votes against Ali’s 9,519 votes to score a slim majority of 2,081 votes.
Another candidate, independent Datuk Abang Rosli Abang Paleng, managed to obtain only 681 votes and might lose his deposit.
The victory confirmed Mawan’s premonition that he was right about his political destiny and that of his party, which had gone through a series of upheavals in the past.
The fight for the seat will always be remembered as a race between BN and PKR, so fierce and so close till the finishing line. Those with faint hearts probably may not want to experience such excitement again.
Mawan’s close aides, BN campaigners and supporters celebrated their victory at the tallying centre before proceeding to Sarikei government rest house last night.