Mawan upbeat about SPDP’s place in Federal Cabinet

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KUCHING: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) can expect to have a representative in the Federal Cabinet after its reshuffle, assured party president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom.

The Social Development Minister yesterday said that discussions on the appointment of SPDP MPs into the cabinet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had yielded a favourable outcome.

He advised party members to be patient as the prime minister could not simply put up a cabinet line-up for the sake of meeting the political needs of individual Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties.

“I have spoken to the prime minister, a follow-up after the announcement of the federal cabinet. The party have always believed that we are there. It is just a matter of time.

“This matter will be sought up amongst ourselves. The prime minister knows our stand and we know that he (Najib) is with us. As far as SPDP is concerned, I have spoken to him and he has assured me that we will get an appointment in the subsequent cabinet reshuffle,” Mawan told reporters when met at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) alumni golf charity tournament at Sarawak Golf Club here.

Explaining the non-appointment of SPDP MPs when the cabinet was announced on May 15, he said the public have to look at the situation from various angles.

Of the four SPDP MPs – Mawan himself (Saratok), deputy president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Bintulu), political novices Anthony Nogeh Gumbek (Mas Gading) and Anyie Ngau (Baram), he clarified that he was not available for selection due to his post in the state.

With veteran politician Tiong committed in the corporate world, this leaves Nogeh and Anyi in the running for a cabinet post.

However, Mawan pointed out that both Nogeh and Anyie needed time to learn the ropes .

“We are left with two new ones whom we believe will be asked to give speeches or probably join the debate for a couple of weeks or months and familiarise themselves with their respective tasks.

“All these would not be easy as they will be observed by other backbenchers where some are former ministers, very acknowledgeable and also veteran opposition members that could bully you anytime,” he highlighted.