Masing: Lawan has to bear consequences of his action
KUCHING: Donald Lawan the defeated independent candidate for Sri Aman has to bear the consequences of his action for going against the BN in the justconcluded election.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak ( PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing said although he accepted Lawan’s democratic right to contest, his action had jeopardised his son’s ( Snowdan) political future. Snowdan is Balai Ringin assemblyman and PRS deputy secretary-general.
“As I have said before, Donald should not have contested against the BN candidate in Sri Aman because his action would jeapordise his son’s future in the party. He did not take the advice seriously,” Masing said.
He also described Lawan’s insistence to contest as akin to “an old script played by new actors”. It is understood that he was referring to Dato Sng Chee Hua and his son Larry who had wanted to take over the rein of power.
“PRS has the misfortune of having two families where the fathers, for reasons best known to themselves, acted in manners which spoilt their sons’ future. What Sng senior did to Larry is identical to what Donald is doing to Snowdan.”
“Both families are using the same script but with different actors. I have warned both fathers on the folly of their political antics on their sons. But they refused to listen. Now, Snowdan’s fate lies in PRS grassroots in Balai Ringin and PRS leadership of which I am one of them,” added Masing.
Lawan, in a press statement accepted the people’s verdict in the just- concluded general election and said that he held no grudges against anyone.
“I do not blame the people for my loss but rather praise them for attaining such level of political maturity.
“To my many personal supporters, I thank them all for voting me.”
Lawan also said it was timely for him to retire from active politics so that he could concentrate on his business.
He said that the state BN did very well in the rural areas - winning all the seats with increased majority.
He said BN’s poor performance in urban areas was a national phenomenon and in no way was a reflection of the state BN leadership.
He congratulated Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud for leading the state BN to yet another resounding victory, which contributed to BN’s control of the federal government.
He also congratulated the leaders of PRS, SPDP and PBB for delivering all their seats.
“To the people of Sri Aman and other Dayak majority constituencies, I must say, though personally disappointed with my own results, with all sincerity and honesty, proudly acknowledge the political maturity of the Dayaks in accepting a two-party system and realising that in the general election it is a choice of government rather than the candidates.
“Appropriately, with such mindset, independent candidates, even
PRS has the misfortune of having two families where the fathers, for reasons best known to themselves, acted in manners which spoilt their sons’ future. What Sng senior did to Larry is identical to what Donald is doing to Snowdan. Both families are using the same script but with different actors. I have warned both fathers on the folly of their political antics on their sons. But they refused to listen. Now, Snowdan’s fate lies in PRS grassroots in Balai Ringin and PRS leadership of which I am one of them. Tan Sri Dr James Masing, PRS president
BN-friendly ones like Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe in Mas Gading and myself, do not stand a chance of being elected.
“The choice of our rural voters is either BN or Pakatan Rakyat. To them personal differences do not matter. They are concerned with the objective and policy of the party they are going to vote,” he added.
BN- PRS candidate Masir Kujat triumphed in Sri Aman by defeating Lawan, along with Wilfred Landong of SWP and Nicholas Mujah of PKR with a majority of 6,550 votes.