Saratok and Baram are two of the 27 seats that opposition PKR is studying for electoral irregularities.
SPDP, an acronym for Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, was tipped to lose at least three seats – Saratok, Baram and Mas Gading – in the 13th general election.
But the wins have now further strengthened the party and its president William Mawan, who risked reputation and political power when he volunteered to contest the Saratok parliamentary seat.
Saratok and Baram are two of the 27 seats that opposition PKR is studying for electoral irregularities. In Baram SPDP’s Anyi Ngau retained the seat with a 194 vote majority over PKR’s Roland Engan and Independent Patrick Sibat..
In Saratok, Mawan won the seat with a majority of 2,081 votes. He garnered 11,600 votes as compared with 9,519 votes obtained by PKR’s Ali Biju. The third candidate Abg Rosli Abg Paleng secured only 681 votes.
But Mawan’s unexpected win was not without widespread allegations of phantom voters and money politics.
According to ground reports, even on nomination day, there were few, if any from Saratok who were prepared to accompany Mawan to the nomination centre.
“He had to wait the arrival of two buses carrying his supporters from his Pakan constituency.
“Even during his campaign in the Iban areas there were only a handful of people,” said a Saratok resident, adding that neither the prime minister nor the chief minister’s visits had made any difference.
But Mawan’s campaign however “suddenly picked-up” three days before polling especially among the voters in Kalaka.
“There were rumours that they (Mawan’s people) were giving away money to voters in Kalaka, ” said the resident.
Rosier future for SPDP
On polling day, the Kalaka voters were said to have come out in full force to vote for Mawan.
The outcome of which helped to overturn the 1,400 plus majority votes obtained by Ali from Krian, the other state constituency within Saratok.
Mawan’s victory in Saratok saved the pride of the party which had suffered after its deputy president Peter Nyarok (then Krian incumbent) was trounced in the 2011 state election by Ali.
His victory along with that of Nogeh, Ngau and Tiong had also further strengthened his leadership of SPDP which was grossly undermined when he sacked four state elected representatives and an MP for insubordination in November 2011.
The group identified as ‘G5′ comprised assemblymen Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Sylvester Entri (Marudi), Paulus Gumbang (Batu Danau), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and former Mas Gading MP Tiki Lafe.
Last year Mawan’s position was further weakened with the departure Meluan assemblyman,Wong Judat. Scores of Judat’s supporters also exited the party just before the parliamentary election.
At this point SPDP is left with only one state assemblyman – Mawan. He is currently a Senior Minister in Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s cabinet.
But now that SPDP has retained all its four parliamentary seats, the future looks rosier.
Mawan can now bargain for at least one full ministerial post and two deputy ministers post for SPDP.
Indications are strong that Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing will be appointed to the federal cabinet.
Najib is expected to announce his post GE13 cabinet tomorrow and the new team is to be sworn in on Thursday.
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