KUCHING: Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa, a pioneering committee of United People’s Party (UPP) says he has soft spot for Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).
Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa
He even described UPP and Teras as ‘twin brothers’ and sometimes ‘twin towers’ in enhancing his political struggle in Engkilili.
To prove his point, Rayong said UPP Engkilili and Teras Engkilili divisions shared the same office and telephone number.
Rayong, who is UPP Engkilili divisional protem chief, said one of his key followers would
head Teras Engkilili division protem committee.
“I see UPP and Teras as twin brothers or twin towers. Both parties will collaborate with other state Barisan Nasional (BN) components, particularly Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu to defend the seat against the opposition and win with big majority in the next state election,” he said when met here on Tuesday.
Rayong’s explanation was understandable because prior to joining UPP on July 6 this year he was a Teras Engkilili divisional protem chairman. When he was with Teras, about 3,700 of his loyal supporters applied to join Teras Engkilili as members. Their political journey was cut short when Rayong joined UPP, so too are his followers.
On May 15 this year Rayong and nine other BN elected representatives and a opposition member surprised many when they quit their respective parties to join Teras.
Rayong and three other assemblymen Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan), Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh) and Ranun Mina (Opar) quit Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) while six others quit Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and one Sarawak Workers Party (SWP).
Those from SPDP are Pakan assemblyman and Saratok MP Tan Sri William Mawan, Datuk Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Datuk Sylvester Entri (Marudi), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Baram MP Anyie Ngau. Pelagus assemblyman George Lagong was a SWP member.
Weeks later, Anyie returned to SPDP while George was offloaded by Teras and becomes an independent assemblyman.