To dent incumbent Dr Tiki Lafe's 'influence' in the Mas Gading constituency, his rivals have unearthed an old alleged corruption issue.
“It will be a close fight…anyone can win,” said a political observer in Mas Gading.
In Mas Gading, incumbent Dr Tiki Lafe is defending his seat as an Independent. In the 2008 general election Tiki won the seat on a Barisan Nasional ticket as a Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) candidate.
But Tiki was sacked in November 2011 together with four other SPDP leaders-cum elected representatives for gross insubordination.
Taking him on are SPDP sanctioned candidate Anthony Nogeh, State Reform Party’s (STAR) Patrick Anek Uren and DAP’s Mordi Bimol.
Tiki claimed that his decision to defend his seat was to ensure it stayed with BN and based on demand from his constituents.
But sources here said that his support was primarily from SPDP members “disillusioned” with the party president William Mawan’s leadership SPDP members. Particularly unhappy were members from the Singai community.
A few nights ago, nearly 1,000 of them attended Tiki’s political rally, indicative that he still had support in the constituency.
Nogeh, who was a former civil servant, is relying on BN partners Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) and Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) members to win the seat.
His party SPDP is deeply split over his nomination and loyalty to Tiki, although he is sacked.
MACC report
To dent Tiki’s ‘influence’ in Mas Gading, his rivals have unearthed an old alleged corruption issue linked to his days as Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development.
It is the hottest issue now and STAR’s Anek wants Tiki to explain what transpired six years ago while he was deputy minister.
Anek went one step further and last Friday lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in order to reopen the case. He urged the MACC to speed up the investigation.
This is the second MACC report against Tiki. A similar report was first lodged in 2007 but until today there was no news of any investigations having been done.
According to sources Tiki, whilst a minister, had allegedly received a substantial amount of money from a local company which then made bids for jobs from his ministry.
Said Anek: “Before he can claim to be a BN friendly candidate and worthy of the people’s support in Mas Gading, Tiki Lafe should immediately explain this abnormality to the people.
“Likewise, we call on the MACC to quickly explain why no action has been taken since the report was lodged.”
Anek said the people of Mas Gading deserved to know the outcome of the investigation.
When contacted, Tiki refused to comment on the MACC report or alleged corruption.
Tainted history?
Tiki, a medical doctor, came into politics through the defunct Sarawak National Party in 1999 against Patau Rubis who contested on a STAR ticket.
In 2004 Tiki who was one of those who formed SPDP won the seat for the second time against Patau.
Following his huge majority, he was appointed a Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development.
In the 2008, Tiki once again won the seat, albeit with a lesser majority. In 2004 he won the seat with a 10,579 vote majority. He retained the seat in 2008 with a 8,551 vote majority.
Many believed that his reduced majority was due to the allegation of corruption which had also probably resulted in him being dropped as a member of prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s cabinet in 2008.
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