‘Udung Bidayuh’ all for Dr Tiki — Nansian

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Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe

KUCHING: The ‘Group of Five’, or G5, believes that Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe will be picked again by the top BN leadership for the coming 13th general election as he is supported by the ‘Udung Bidayuh’, said G5 spokesman Datuk Peter Nansian.

The ‘Udung Bidayuh’, or Bidayuh Forum, is the community’s highest decision-making body, and its members are the nine elected representatives (six assemblymen and three MPs) and two political secretaries to the Chief Minister.

“The Udung Bidayuh has decided to retain the present status quo, and that implies that it wants to retain all the incumbents in the coming general election because this is the era where the Bidayuh community is given the best ever positions in the government,” Nansian told thesundaypost here yesterday.

Among the nine elected representatives, one is a full minister in the person of Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong; two deputy ministers (Datuk Richard Riot Jaem and Dato Dr James Dawos Mamit); two assistant ministers (Dr Jerip Susil and Nansian); deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly (Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn); and chairman of the National Service Training Council (Dr Tiki).

Nansian added that Dr Tiki also had the upper hand in terms of “winnable candidate” for Mas Gading as he is the incumbent.

“He is still enjoying strong support from the people on the ground as well as strong support from both Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina and I.”

Hence, Nansian, who is also Tasik Biru assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Community Services and Industrial Development, is optimistic that the top BN leadership would still prefer Dr Tiki than a candidate from SPDP, the party to which the seat is traditionally allocated.

“Even the chief minister said to us (G5) ‘terang bulan’ (the moon is still shining) when we met him while waiting for the arrival of the prime minister at the Kuching International Airport on Saturday.”

He also revealed that even Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak acknowledged the relevance of the G5’s platform – BN Club.

‘SPDP should also do same if its candidate not nominated’

 

The BN Club was set up by the G5 after they were sacked by SPDP over alleged indiscipline and insubordination. Its other members are assemblymen Datuk Sylvester Entrie Muran (Marudi), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau).

“You have quoted the prime minister rightly in The Borneo Post’s front page today that he only wanted the most winnable candidates from all the component parties. This is very true indeed in the case of Dr Tiki.”

Najib, in his speech at the chief minister’s residence on Saturday night, said he wanted the state’s component parties to nominate only the most winnable candidates to him. He added that he would not entertain anything less, especially those considered favourites by the respective parties.

“Please give only winnable candidates, and I only want winnable candidates. I don’t want your favourite persons to be candidates.”

Nansian said G5 would abide by the BN’s decision if Dr Tiki was not re-nominated.

“Likewise, SPDP should also do the same if its candidate is not nominated.”

On another issue, Nansian dismissed claims by certain online reports that the fall-out between his group and SPDP was due to certain projects given to the party.

He reiterated that they were sacked because they had held SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom accountable for not being true to his words. Prior to the party’s TGA in 2009, he claimed that Mawan had told them that he would be keeping the party’s line-up in “status quo”, but he never did.

On public perception that he was not in good terms with Dr. Tiki, Nansian said it was merely perception without basis.

“Well, to that I can only say this … in the past two general elections in 2004 and 2008, I have always supported him.”

Meanwhile, Nansian reaffirmed the stance of his group that it would continue to support the current BN top leadership at both the state and federal levels.