KUCHING: SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan confirmed that Mas Gading incumbent Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe will be replaced and there are ‘at least four potential candidates’ who are very ‘winnable’ to replace him.
“For Mas Gading, we have identified at least four potential candidates and we will choose the best among the best,” Mawan told a news conference at a cheque presentation ceremony held at his office here yesterday.
Among those who have been identified as potential replacement for Dr Tiki are Henry Jinep, a successful local entrepreneur and his brother William, a senior government servant Rayan Narong, Salcra deputy general manager Anthony Nogeh and permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism Datu Ik Pahon Joyik.
Mawan also warned other BN component parties not to sabotage each other as that would give the opposition the advantage.
On the party’s three other incumbents namely Jelaing Mersat (Saratok), Dato Jacob Sagan (Baram) and Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Bintulu) Mawan believed they were also winnable candidates.
“Yes, that is what the party believes – that they are all winnable candidates,” he said in confirming that the three MPs would be retained in the coming polls.
With that confirmation, SPDP is the first state BN component party to officially confirm three of its four candidates for the coming election.
SPDP has some 90,000 registered members from its 71 divisions statewide.
Meanwhile, SPDP deputy secretary-general Paul Igai said the party would continue its outreach programme to recruit more members.
He said over the weekend, more than 700 people had joined the party in the Baram area (300 from Bakong area and 400 from Telang Usan).
Baram covers the state constituencies of Marudi which is currently held by Datuk Sylvester Entri, a former SPDP vice-president who had been sacked from the party due to grave insubordination and Telang Usan assemblyman which is currently held by Dennis Ngau of PBB.