Pakan community leaders association chairman calls for Mawan to defend his seat
KUCHING: Pakan District Ketua Masyarakat and Ketua Kaum (community leaders) association (KMKK) chairman Tuai Rumah Walter Ahap Tupai has called on incumbent assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom to defend the seat in the next state election.
He said the constituency of Pakan still need a people representative who truly understand the administration system of the state.
“Having a people’s representative who understands the state administration is critical for the realisation of the development plan for a new Pakan launched by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg recently,” said Walter in a statement.
He also pointed out that Mawan had recruited about 6,000 new members to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) ever since he joined the party.
As a result, Walter said nominating another candidate from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to contest the Pakan seat would be seen as splitting the unity of GPS.
“Fielding another candidate is not only a step backward but also disrespectful to the principle of loyalty and candidate selection process that was agreed by GPS.”
He was responding to a report by Utusan Borneo stating a group of people claiming to be the grassroots members of GPS Pakan want Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Pakan treasurer Edwin Bandang to contest in the Pakan constituency.
Walter believed such action was unhealthy and insensitive to other parties within the GPS coalition.
Walter said the GPS candidate proposed for Pakan constituency must have a proven track record, high commitment and integrity and popular to secure a win for the GPS coalition in the next state election.
He said ‘traditional seats’ of certain parties in GPS should no longer be a factor in the selection of candidates as the coalition has its own formula in choosing the best person to represent an area.
“All decisions in regard to the selection of candidates lay with the GPS’s chairman, which is Abang Johari.”