KUCHING: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) secretary general Datuk Nelson Balang Rining rubbished a news report that more than 15,000 members were quitting the party.
He pointed out that the 16 former divisional youth chiefs and 10 former divisional women chiefs, who made such claims in a news conference led by former SPDP Youth secretary Khairuddin Abdul Kadir and former SPDP Women secretary Olivia Chan on May 18, were generalising that others in their respective divisions would follow them when the reality could be the opposite.
“It is a ridiculous claim. They just exaggerated the numbers,” he said when contacted today.
He also believed that these former divisional youth and women chiefs were making such claims based on party documents still in their possession.
“This strengthened our suspicion that they still keep party documents despite already quitting the party,” he said.
It was reported today that 15,263 members – 5,263 youth and 10,000 women – were quitting SPDP to join the newly formed Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).
This was following the news conference on May 18, attended by the 16 former divisional youth chiefs and 10 divisional women chiefs, claiming to represent 5,263 and 10,000 members respectively.
Balang revealed the party will hold its supreme council meeting this Friday (May 23) in Bintulu to discuss current matters affecting SPDP.