We would be happy with at least a status quo, says Mawan

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WHAT’S YOUR VIEWS?: Mawan (left) being interviewed by BP reporter.

KUCHING: SPDP is keeping its fingers crossed that in the impending State Cabinet reshuffle it would be accorded at least the same representation as that prior to the recent 10th state election.

Before the April 16 polls, the party had one full minister and three assistant ministers, but following the defeat of its deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok Entrie the party is now left with a full minister and two assistant ministers.

SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom is Social Development and Urbanisation Minister while senior vice president Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie is Assistant Minister of Environment and vice president Sylvester Entri Muran Assistant Minister of Public Utilities/Assistant Minister of Land Development.

Nyarok was Assistant Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture (Farmers Organisations and Co-operatives).

Mawan, when met in his office yesterday, said the party was expecting “a status quo, at least”.

“We expect a status quo at least. That is what we should expect, isn’t it?”

Mawan said he had yet to propose any name to fill the vacant slot, but said it could be any of three remaining SPDP elected representatives, namely Wong Judat (Meluan), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Palu @ Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau).

“It can be any of the three like what was once said – three coins in the fountain and it can be any coin that the fountain blessed.”

He said the party could not have bigger expectation than that, and based on the number of vacancies available there should be no problem for the party to be given a status quo, at least. The Cabinet reshuffle is expected to be made sometime this month, but Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud had on Thursday said he had not finalised the list yet.

The state election had created a number of vacant slots, due to the lost and non-nomination of several incumbents.

SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, who lost in Piasau, was then Deputy Chief Minister, Minister of Industrial Development, and Minister of Tourism and Heritage.

But shortly after the election, Taib decided to helm the Ministry of Industrial Development while the Tourism and Heritage portfolio was given to Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Three assistant ministers were not nominated to defend their seats, namely Larry Sng, Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck, and Datuk Dr Abang Abdul Rauf.

Another Assistant Minister Datuk David Teng contested but lost in Repok. Sng was then holding the posts of Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department, Assistant Minister of Industrial Development (Planning), and Assistant Minister of Youth Affairs and Training of Youths; Dr Soon (Assistant Minister of Housing and Urban Development); Datuk Dr Rauf (Assistant Minister of Industrial Development – Promotion and Development of Industrial Estates); and Teng (Assistant Minister of Food Industries).