SIBU: The Sarawak Progress Democratic party (SPDP) is now in fifth gear in its preparations to face the coming parliamentary polls, said its president Tan Sri William Mawan.
He said this included identifying the replacement for its Mas Gading incumbent Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe who has been sacked from the party for insurbodination.
“Yes, I believe we are ready now.We have been quite mobilised in constituencies like Mas Gading, Saratok, Bintulu and Baram which belong to us.
“We are confident of delivering all these seats to the Barisan Nasional,”he told reporters after presenting a grant of RM10,000 to the Sibu Rural District Council Sports and Recreation Club here today.
On Dr Tiki’s replacement Mawan said the party had around six to seven hopefuls, all professionals from the Bidayuh community who are either senior civil servants or with the private sector, businessmen and also from among its members.
“They are meeting among themselves trying to agree who should be the candidate.
“They are trying to determine the best out of the best. I will eventually pick one from among them who will get the support of the rest. So I am not picking at random at all,” said Mawan, who is also the state Minister of Social Development.
He admitted that current reports from various quarters and feedback from the ground still favoured Dr Tiki.
“This is simply because we have yet to pick his replacement and to announce him to the constituents.
“Mas Gading is a traditional BN stronghold. I am sure people will still go for the BN here,” he said.
Mawan said he expected to name the candidate soon.
On the other three candidates, namely Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing for Bintulu, Datuk Jacob Sagan for Baram and Jelaing Mersat for Saratok, he said as far as SPDP was concerned, they would be retained.
Sagan is the Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry, Jelaing the Deputy Transport Minister while Tiong is the party treasurer-general. –Bernama