KUCHING: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) yesterday quashed rumours that its secretary-general Nelson Balang Rining had quit the post.
Nelson Balang Rining
Paul Igai, a close aide of SPDP president Dato Sri William Mawan, said it was untrue because the party had not received any resignation letter from Balang. As such, Balang is still effectively the secretary general of the party.
“Search me, sir. I have not read any letter (of resignation). So, issue is closed. I do not know. I hear nothing, I see nothing. But I smelled something,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Igai, who is also SPDP deputy secretary general, was asked to respond to a report in an Internet news portal which said Balang had quit as secretary general.
Balang, who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman, was appointed to the post last January to replace Sylvester Entri Muran, who is Assistant Minister for Water Supply and Marudi assemblyman.
The move triggered a walkout by Entri and four other elected representatives namely Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian, Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang and Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe.
The group was soon known as ‘SPDP 5’ which at one time called for the immediate merger of SPDP with Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
However, things seem to have simmered down of late. The group was seen getting close with Mawan at several public functions lately, suggesting that there could be peace in the party with the state election scheduled to be held soon.
According to the Internet report, rumours had it that Balang had expressed his desire a couple of weeks ago to his close friends that he wanted to resign from the post.
He had reportedly told his friends that he was “too green” to handle the post and was sorry that his appointment had caused so much trouble to the party.
Balang had so far refused to comment on the rumours.
SPDP, founded in 2002, was allocated eight state seats by the Barisan Nasional. These are Tasik Biru, Krian, Pakan, Meluan, Bekenu, Marudi, Batu Danau and Ba Kelalan.
It also has four parliamentary seats namely Mas Gading, Saratok, Baram and Bintulu.