Teras reactivates divisions for state polls

0

Banyi (seated, second left) with other Teras leaders from the central region.

KUCHING: The executive committee of Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) central region has resolved to reactivate their divisions, namely Meluan, Bukit Assek, Dudong, Ngemah, Baleh, Pelagus, Bawang Assan, Machan, Krian and Kalaka.

The resolution was passed during the regional committee meeting at Teras Central Region Office in Sibu last week, said party secretary-general Banyi Beriak through a press statement received here yesterday.

“The branches have agreed to (re)activate their respective divisional working committees so as to be ready for the next state election,” Banyi said.

He added they have also unanimously agreed to invite former party president Tan Sri William Mawan to come back to lead the party.

“We feel that Tan Sri’s (Mawan) services, experience and good leadership are not being put to good use by his present party PBB. It seems he is being marginalised there.

“He still has many supporters in Teras – around 50,000 – who still look up at him as the one who can unite and bring us into mainstream politics,” he said.

The press statement, however, did not elaborate on Teras’ present status although previous news reports suggested that they were moving around on the ground quite regularly.

Teras appears to be still at a crossroads; despite being part of the Sarawak Baru coalition, the party is said to be quietly hoping that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would invite it to be part of the fold.

GPS, led by Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, is awaiting registration as a political entity. It comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). The four parties quit the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition immediately after BN lost to Pakatan Harapan in the general election.

Mawan, who is Pakan assemblyman, quit Teras before the 2016 state election and joined PBB after the winning in the polls. He resigned from Teras to contest on a BN ticket in Pakan.

He won the seat with a slim majority against independent candidate Dr Jawie Jinggot and Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Rinda Juliza Alexander.

Sarawak Baru is the latest coalition in Sarawak politics, comprising Teras, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru), State Reform Party Sarawak (Star) and Sarawak Workers Party (SWP).