Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed that it will field its own candidate in the Saratok parliamentary constituency to replace incumbent Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom in the next general election (GE14).

PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing told The Borneo Post yesterday that his party had identified at least three potential candidates to replace the partyless Mawan.

“Put it this way….we will field our own candidate in Saratok. We are not saying that Tan Sri William Mawan is not good guy, but it’s time to give the chance to the younger generation to serve,” said Tiong.

He revealed that the three potential candidates are all professionals from Saratok and are in their prime age.

“We need a new face who is a local to take over the seat so that he can focus on developing Saratok,” stressed Tiong.

The Bintulu MP reiterated that his party abides by the stand of the state Barisan Nasional (BN) that a state assemblyman cannot be a MP.

“Like what Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas had mentioned before that he would not be defending his Betong parliamentary seat, we too are of the opinion that Tan Sri Mawan should give way to a new face as he is currently the Pakan assemblyman. So he should not be holding two posts; and to give chance to others to serve the people as well,” he said.

Recently Uggah, who is also PBB acting deputy president, told The Borneo Post that he would not be defending his Betong parliamentary seat, to focus on his job as both the assemblyman of Bukit Saban and deputy chief minister.

Mawan has been partyless since he left PDP and joined Teras a few years ago. In the last state election, he resigned as Teras’ president to stand as BN direct candidate in Pakan.

On a related issue, Tiong said, his party is already on election mode to face the opposition in the 14th General Election.

“Like other BN component parties, we are ready. And as far as PDP is concerned, I’m confident we can deliver all the four seats for the BN provided that all the BN component parties cooperate among ourselves and not sabotage each other,” he stressed.

On the remaining two PDP seats of Baram and Mas Gading, Tiong said Mas Gading incumbent Datuk Anthony Nogeh would be retained as he had performed well.

“As for Baram, our MP Anyie Ngau has to work harder to improve his performance so that we can let him continue for another term. But we will be monitoring his performance,” stressed Tiong.

Meanwhile on his Bintulu seat, Tiong said if the delineation exercise for the new parliamentary constituencies is approved, then he would be serving a smaller area with some 56,000 voters.

“Of course if you asked me, I would be happy if the redelineation exercise could get through in Parliament so that I could serve a smaller area because as of now, I am serving a large area which include parts of Kakus and Murum,” he said.

Bintulu parliamentary area consisted of four state constituencies of Tanjung Batu, Samalaju, Kemena and Jepak.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Peter Sibon

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