Widening cracks in SPDP

A July pow-wow has not healed the wounds within Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

KUCHING: Hopes of reconciliation between Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president William Mawan and the ‘rebel’ group popularly known as ‘SPDP 5’ is looking more and more remote as the war of words between them increases in its velocity.

The two-year crisis appeared to have been resolved in July when Mawan, senior vice president and Tasik Biru assemblyman Peter Nansian and former SPDP secretary general and Marudi assemblyman Sylvester Enteri met for a pow-wow.

The purpose was to find solutions to resolve the crisis which has adversely affected the party’s unity and has caused the loss of its strongholds of Krian and Ba’Kelalan seats in the April election.

The other three dissenting members – Mas Gading MP and vice president Dr Tiki Lafe, Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus and Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Gumbang – were however not invited to the meeting.

Although the crisis appeared to have mellowed following the July meeting, it came to fore again last week when Mawan threatened to use his presidential power to take action against the five for allegedly creating factionalism within the party.

Although Mawan did not name the five, it was obvious he was referring to the group, which had not only failed to attend the party’s supreme council meetings for the past two years, but had shown little respect for the president.

In a strongly-ordered warning, he said: “If I am forced to take action, I will take it regardless of the consequences.

“I will not hesitate to use my presidential power to take action against any member who foments factionalism within the party.

“This is to avert disunity among the members that could lead to disintegration of the party,” he said, pointing out that there are forums where they can convene to reconsider differences.

“There is no need to resort to unfavourable ways to resolve them,” Mawan added.

No camps

The first to respond was Tiki, who denied that there were camps in the party, but admitted there were differences.

“When we talked about factions in any grouping, there is bound to be faction.

“We as leaders, including the president, should be the last one to talk about factions.

“The moment the top leaders talk about factions, the people on the ground would start to talk about their own factions,” he said.

Next to comment on Mawan’s warning was Nansian who admitted that there were few times he had failed to attend the supreme council meetings.

That was because he was either away overseas for official duties or committed elsewhere.

For all occasions the party had been informed in advance.

“But if the leadership wants to use my absences to find fault with me there is nothing much I can do,” he said.

Trust compromised

Also joining the war of words was Enteri who said Mawan’s statement was aimed at threatening and frightening the group.

He said it had swept under the carpet whatever trust and confidence that arose from their meeting with him on July 25 this year.

Enteri said that what Mawan had said in Sibu contradicted what was said and discussed in their meeting in his office.

He said that the statement was a departure from the agreement they had during the meeting which among others discussed how they could resolve the problems that had affected the party for the last two years.

“Our intention in the meeting was to consolidate the party and he agreed to what were discussed, but the statement in Sibu seems to show that he has reservations and perceives us as not loyal to the party.

“Our group is fed up as it has tolerated enough since the crisis erupted last year,” Enteri said.

Still revengeful

Mawan used one of his strong men, Alexander Asing Sadai, deputy chairman Samarahan branch to chide Enteri for his attack on the president.

Said Asing: “I am of the opinion that he is still revengeful even after Mawan called Nansian and him for a meeting at his office on July 25 in Kuching to settle their differences.

“Even after this Enteri has continued with his verbal assault on the president in the media, and if he continues to do that, then he is breaking up the party.

“It is an act of gross insubordination,” Asing added.

Defending Enteri was Peter Gani, chairman of SPDP Pelagus division who criticised Asing for making a ‘biased’ statement.

Obviously, the crisis in the party is getting worse.

Rumours of new party

But what was it that triggered Mawan’s outburst in Sibu? Did he hear of rumours that the ‘SPDP 5′ was forming a BN friendly party which aims to contest in constituencies held by SPDP and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS)?

Rumours to that effect have been circulating in major cities and towns in Sarawak.

The rumours seem to have some air of truth especially after the Sarawak Registrar of Societies confirmed receiving four applications to register new parties.

State director, Ken Leben disclosed that one of the applications was to register Parti Bumi Kenyalang.

A source from the ‘SPDP 5’ said that their followers are demanding that they either form a new party so that they have the chance to contest against any BN candidate or challenge Mawan and the president’s men in the next party election.

Mawan must have got wind of the information. Disagreement between the five and the president began in January 2010 when they accused the president of failing to honour his word of keeping Enteri as secretary general.

Instead he appointed Nelson Balang Rining to replace Enteri.

No solidarity

The promise was made before the December 2009 party election by Mawan in order to prevent any challenge to his leadership.

When Mawan announced the new appointment in January 2010 the five and three other members of the supreme council walked out from the meeting.

Since then they have never attended the supreme council meetings or functions organised by the party.

Even a solidarity dinner planned for September last year had to be cancelled when the ‘rebel’ group refused to attend.

All sorts of excuses had been given by them for not attending the meetings and functions.

However, just before the state election in April, the four state representatives met with Mawan and said to have ‘apologised’ to the president.

But their efforts to make peace were considered not genuine as they were said to be only interested in getting letters authorising them to use SPDP to contest the election.

Mawan’s supporters believed that he was ‘tricked’ into signing the letters of authority. Feeling betrayed, the party denied the four of financial and logistical support during the election.

Now the crisis is not only back to square one, but it is getting worse.