KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) does not agree with its former deputy information chief Tedwin Ngumbang that the party was being bullied by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Dato Sri Dr James Masing
In an SMS to The Borneo Post, PRS president Dato Sri Dr James Masing said: “PRS does not agree with Tedwin’s point of view, so we advised him to resign. He did.”
Masing, who was commenting on Tedwin’s claim made to the media on Monday, however, did not say when Tedwin resigned from the party that he had helped form in 2004.
On Monday, it was reported that the former deputy information chief had resigned from the party because he wanted to serve Sarawak National Party (SNAP).
An insider was quoted as saying Tedwin had exhausted all his usefulness in PRS, and that prompted him to leave the party despite the claim that he was still in good term with Masing.
However, a web portal reported that the former information chief had uttered remarks to the effect that Taib was bullying the party.
Meanwhile, the chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said he felt sorry for Tedwin for leaving PRS.
He, however, believed that the former information chief might have personal problems or aspirations which led him to turn his back on the party.
“There must be a reason for him leaving (the party) but by putting the blame on YAB CM as bullying PRS as his reason is a bit absurd,” Abdul Karim said when contacted yesterday.
Abdul Karim, who is also the Asajaya assemblyman, said he personally knew that Tedwin was keen to contest in the coming election and this might be the reason for him to leave PRS.
“In the scenario before his departure from PRS, being a fellow BN member it would not be possible for him to contest in his hometown of Betong because Betong is a PBB seat,” he said.
He wished Tedwin “all the best in SNAP” and hoped that the former deputy information chief had fully weighed the consequences of his action.
Party Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy youth chief Pandi Suhaili said Tedwin should realise that under the concept of Barisan Nasional (BN), not all demands made by any component party must be met by the state coalition chairman.
He said there were also demands made by members of PBB, which is headed by Taib, that the chief minister didn’t entertain.
“As the state BN chief, he has to take into account all factors when making his decision. Moreover, he will surely consult other leaders of the state BN parties to seek for opinions and suggestions before making any decision,” said Pandi.
The vice youth chief also concurred with the Asajaya assemblyman that Tedwin might be leaving PRS due to his frustration at not being able to get what he personally wanted, and not what the party could not get.