Mawan Exclusive,”Imbroglio in Saratok”

It was a supposedly to be a light morning casual chit chat with Mawan but however the whole situation triggered Mawan to give an exclusive from his political heart to audie61. He  talks about Saratok , Pakan and Political Expediency, Ministership ,Parties and New Voters trend in the country.

Saratok P205

Saratok delivered the Parliamentary Federal Government award as the best in the state in terms of assistance to the people out of the 31 Parliament seats in Sarawak. It was won in 2014 a year after he won the the parliamentary election in 2013. As an incumbent MP   he worked tirelessly on the ground to see to their needs like an eager “First Timer in Parliament”. He was using his experience as a State YB which he garnered over 20 years and it proved to be succcessful. There is nothing to shout about it ,he said and he is only doing what the people wants and he delivers.

There is an idiom which is,”if it ain’t broke,don’t fix it” PM and the Top BN leadership will only know too well. Mawan has proven to be reasonably successful and an effective assemblyman and he is from 2013 in Saratok till today proving also to be a well liked,well mannered and down to earth parliamentarian. His experience as a “State Assemblyman and Minister in dealing with all sorts of problems big or small and also led as a Party President in SPDP will not be discounted or overlooked by the Prime Minister,Chief Minister either.

He said there are a number of PDP hopefuls in Subeng Mula,Basil Thomas and Dr.James Chella and they have been going around the constituency claiming to be the rightful candidate for BN in P205. Of course he knows that they are trying to impress the party and wanting the people to give them the mandate. They are also bearing down ‘some funds” for assistance in their own little way to sway the people. Mawan said as incumbent he has brought ‘government and parliamentary development funds” aplenty to the constituents and the people knows too well.

PM Najib knows well enough what Mawan is capable of and the award is a living proof of Mawan’s “Rakyat Di Dahalukan” which is in line with the BN slogan.

According to a special investigative report the aspirants or lobbyists are getting each others “THROATS” and this in itself is not healthy for Barisan Nasional for GE14. It will be a huge mess for BN to clean up as per the report which will tilt the balance away from the first timers,fence sitters,undecided voters. There is so much confusion on the ground and its a sticky situation and its not at all HEALTHY for BN in Saratok.

Mawan wants this Imbroglio to stop as it will deteriorate further as a number of Supreme Council members in PDP are behind each of their hopeful and aspirant candidate (names withheld). Mawan himself as always preached the “Unity of Barisan Nasional”is of utmost importance as to regards to personal interest and grudges.

Tiong himself  seems to be ill advised on this matter and he needs to look at the bigger picture of Barisan Nasional and not to be misinformed ,misguided by some over enthusiastic party boys. Surely, Tiong doesn’t have his own Agenda besides for the better good of Barisan Nasional ?

Pakan and Political Expediency

Pakan is a state constituency in Sarawak, Malaysia, that has been represented in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly since 1969. Mawan won the State seat in 1969 after the delineation and have won it consecutively for 7 terms. He has brought a lot of development to the state constituency in terms of water,electricity,road linkages and economic benefits to the people he has served. (current picture of road in progress)

Mawan said in the last state elections he has expressed his interest to step down and participate in the State elections of 2016. He even told the late CM “Tok Nan” that he is going to step aside for a candidate of CM’s choice. He was summoned to Sri Perdana and in the presence of the Prime Minister and the late CM told in so many words was told “THIS IS A POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY”

Mawan you are very much needed to win the seat for BN in Pakan. At that particular time when Mawan was summoned the former DCM Alfred Jabu and current DCM Douglas Uggah was also around says Mawan.

Mawan has already made up his mind and he was push into it and “SACRIFICED FOR BN” by the late CM Adenan and PM Najib. It was last minute,last hour thing and it is not right for people to hearsay that he is SO GREEDY and wants both the State and Federal seats. This is very significant he says on the statement.

Paul Igai in his statement said,”another reason Mawan should be dropped is that there is an understanding in Sarawak BN that no one should serve both as a parliamentarian as well as a state assemblyperson. He also cited Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas’ recent statement that no one should hold both a parliamentary and state assembly seat.

“I fully support Uggah’s statement on the matter and I hope both the state and national BN will adhere to the concept.”

Why is that that many are not looking above and beyond the Unifying factor of BN instead are trying to find ways and means to put BN Politicians at loggerheads when the truth is not told said Mawan.

These are his words,”I have already indicated to the late CM Adenan and PM Najid that I am willing to Sacrifice the state seat for Federal Seat in our meeting in Sri Perdana and it was Political Expediency that I was chosen as a BN Direct Candidate . I have secured the seat for BN in Pakan even though the margin was small of 426 and its still a BN win. An independant Jawie Jingot @ Jenggot received 3573 as compared to Mawan 3999. Tiong in a press statement of PDP did say this,”BN deliver all seats provided that all the BN component parties cooperate among ourselves and not sabotage each other.” Mawan have not sabotage anyone and he is not about to start doing that and he knows how BN values his loyalty.

Mawan said if a solution is to be found for this “imbroglio of Saratok” he is now ever ready to RELINQUISHED the Pakan seat for the better good of the unity within Barisan Nasional. Of course, its up the Chief Minister Abang Johari  and the State Barisan Nasional hierarchy whether i should bring this chapter to a close . PM Najib knows what Mawan wants and he values BN loyalty and a win for BN for Saratok in the upcoming GE14.

Will Tiong be rubbing his fingers to have the State seat of Pakan back as a PDP seat? That is for deliberation by the State BN and Mawan says as long as the State seat belongs to BN  even if there is a by election called he is all supportive for a BN appointed candidate. President Tiong will have a Vertigo if after Mawan relinquishes it will still be at square1. Who will claim this seat is anyone’s guess.?

State Ministership

I did not go back on my words that I am going to serve as a FULL STATE MINISTER in CM Adenan’s cabinet. I could have chosen the easy way out and be taken in any component party of BN or be picked as a Minister which is the prerogative of the Chief Minister in naming his cabinet. Instead after Sri Perdana Meeting he has already made up his mind and as a Promise to the PM Najib and to CM Adenan to concentrate on his Federal duties. Its of no use saying that I have been dropped and “party less” which is a very feeble excuse to gain political mileage by some political opponents but the truth always  prevailed says Mawan.

Parties and Voting Trends

There are many businessman, individuals and groups of people who want to join certain parties but due to mistrust,infighting and petty politiking are opting out of Political parties and are non aligned to anyone. Mawan said that this trend is developing and it will tilt the voters mindset as they will vote the ‘choice of BN direct candidate” PM Najib would not only want to win for BN but also to secure a 2/3rds majority to have a stable and secure government for the good of the country.

Mawan says,”Its a new challenge for the parties to be relevant to the voters and to look at a bigger picture where every vote counts and the Parliamentarians to be effective in their designated tasks for their own constituency.”

The late CM Adenan knows that Mawan’s experience in the state after serving as a Minister will want Mawan to be a good Federal parliamentarian who will not only be good for Sarawak but also beneficial for Malaysia as a whole.

audie61 says,”The whole Imbroglio in Saratok and to a certain extend Pakan have been told as per this interview and Mawan will not hesitate to RELINQUISH his Pakan seat if that is the wish of the BN hierarchy and he will certainly abide by the BN rules as set down. Of course at the end of the day, Mawan will listen to only the advise put forward by the top BN leadership in CM Abang Jo and PM Najib .

It was a fruitful conclusive interview by Mawan and he sticks with his decision.BN will decide and he will toe the line.

That’s Mawan for you.

Paul,”Missed Opportunity” Mawan,”Effective Decision”

The President of PDP Tiong have finally been ‘smoked out of his fox hole‘ by the interview conducted by Borneo Posts Peter Sibon.

Tiong as President, says a former youth member.”he has to come out with a statement or say something to appease the party loyalists and aspirants or they will all lost hope of their lobbying for their “traditional seats”for GE14.  Moreover he also touched on Anyi who needs to be work harder to improve his performance and this would not give motivation to yet another incumbent MP.Will Nogeh sail through that is another tricky question?”

This is a political decision which PM Najib himself would and could easily advised Tiong,”the quality of  decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon..” However,Najib knows that Tiong is very much in a hurry to wrap up this “imbroglio” and informed his colleagues in BN that all is under control.

He himself is not 100% safe and looking over his shoulders in Bintulu or else he would not have talked about delineation exercise. We know that he won in 2013 with voters of 26458 against DAP John Brian Anthony garnering 19025.

Meanwhile audie61 made two separate phone calls one each to Paul Igai and William Mawan. Paul said its a ‘missed opportunity for reconciliation” as the momentum was there after the Pahang BN retreat. The PM had said in so many words that on Mawan’s case  it had to be done ‘fast”.

When questioned further on Tiong ‘s statement he gave a positive answer as ‘all is not lost” He also mentioned that Mawan would be welcome back with open arms and will not be dropped as an incumbent. Of course Paul knows very well what transpired too in the last state elections when Mawan was fielded as a direct BN candidate.  He also told us that there are too many ‘piranhas” swimming around and lurking around the President.

Before we said thank you for his inputs Paul said,’please read his statement which was published a few days ago.”

If we read it politically PDP would not want this seat to fall to another BN component party. They have every right to claim the traditional seat and the press release is a strong enough statement to justify .

We managed to track down Mawan who after coming back from Kuala Lumpur made his way to Kabong his MP constituency and now is on his way to Pakan for his DUN duties. audie61 asked him on the newspaper articles which PDP has made and he said ,”

‘I am serving both the people in my constituency and am more interested in getting down to the grassroots than doing petty politicking.

I have been elected to serve and am doing just that. The interest of Barisan Nasional is more important as we approach the GE14 and he said that he is so “entrenched in Saratok” that he will not take a step backward.

His main task is to consolidate all the groupings that exist in Saratok and to ensure that seat remains BN after GE14.

We were informed by our reliable sources that PDP President Tiong has been misinformed and illadvised on the situation on the ground. Mawan said ,’its up to Tiong to camp in Saratok for week or so and find out for himself instead of listening to hearsay’s which will do no good to Barisan Nasional.” He should come unnoticed quietly and he will know the real situation on the ground.

Mawan’s phone was breaking up as reception was not very clear he said,”in any elections, the product of information,analysis and critically the EFFECTIVE DECISION to act is important. This is a”bonus”safe seat for BN as he is the incumbent and he has worked hard to solidfy the seat for BN for GE14.”

Did Tiong make the effective decision and timing or will Tiong live to regret his actions?

Tiong knows the final say will rest with the State BN Chairman Abang Jo and PM Najib as the BN Chairman and for them to Sacrifice “WINNABILITY WITH LOYALTY” with a new and untested candidate is not exactly on their menu.

PM and CM will not want to go on the back foot and knows that Mawan will deliver the seat when called upon. PM himself  came down in 2013 when Mawan was at his lowest peak and he campaigned for Mawan to sail through against a “worthy opponent” in Ali Biju of PKR and other detractors who were hell bent of destroying and finishing off the then SPDP President.

PM Najib and CM Abang Jo will take all this factors into consideration and Paul could not have put it more nicely,”all is not lost“

Nazri Went on an Overdrive, Over reacted and Overheated to “Samseng”

It was supposed to be an  Iftar@KL 2017 programme at Dataran Merdeka. The political journalist and those who know Minister Nazri Aziz well enough were waiting for the perfect timing. They got it spot on bang,bang bang and he shot everything that came his way.

Now #Sarawak is trending in social media at No.1 and there are many angry net citizens who are giving the Tourism Malaysia Minister a piece of his medicine. He called newly appointed Sarawak Tourism Minister “Setahun Jagung” (greenhorn) and also told him in so many words:-

“You should not talk big in politics. If you want to show samseng (thuggery), we are bigger samseng. I won’t let him be samseng like that; I have been a minister for a long time.”Don’t be a samseng when you are a new minister. If you want to learn to be a samseng, you can learn from me.”

When pressed further he even had a go at Miri,”On the city of Miri’s opposition towards the tax, “Miri only has one hotel”.
Wow, he even went further like a man possessed on a witch hunt on the byelection of BN’s chances in Pujut. Surely, this must have gone very well with BN Sarawak’s component parties and they will even lay out a RED CARPET TREATMENT for him to campaign for them.

Karim Hamzah does not want to aggravate the situation further and he was very magnanimous in his reply when asked by reporters in a programme “bubur lambuk”organised by the Island Big Bikers in Kuching Sarawak.

Karim reiterated that “We are not against the Federal Government.We are asking them to consult us because they are certain things that may need a little bit of adjustments.”

Is that wrong ? The bill as shown here extracted,” Tourism Tax Bill was introduced on April 4 and passed in the Dewan Rakyat a day later. Dewan Negara duly passed it, too, on April 27.

In the Dewan Rakyat, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz read out the bill for its second and third readings at 1.39am on April 5 before it was passed at 4.57am”

Can it be delayed instead of being enforced by July 1st? Certainly in a democratic country the Prime Minister and his cabinet could be consulted again and deliberated on the table and that was what our newly appointed Sarawak tourism Minister was hoping and asking for.

Instead Karim got a tongue lashing and many are questioning Nazri’s agenda now? Is he doing it on purpose to show his mettle as someone very big and powerful within UMNO circles or is he doing for someone else across the political divide? We dont want to assume or else we too will get heavy “bombardments” coming our way.

Even now Fadillah Yusof PBB Youth Chief and Rahman Dahlan have come under attack when they are protecting one of their own. Nazri even have the cheek to say they are not ‘neutral” as they are both East Malaysians.

Isn’t this going to blow over with now Sarawak pulling out its representation in the Malaysian Tourism Board in which the Minister of course is Nazri Aziz. This political statement comes a day after the spat between Nazri and Karim. Nazri also thanked the Sarawak government for pulling out and thats real “political sarcasm” on his part.

A political analysts just wants to touch the cream on top and said,”Federalism throwing their weight around as Sarawak’s Tough man the late CM Adenan is not there to rally the people and take the flak himself. Our source said Nazri himself will not be afraid to go in the ring with anyone but he did and does fear CM Adenan.

Is that the reason why he sees Karim Hamzah as a late upstart and “wet behind the ears” and even named him “Setahun Jagung” Many entrepreneurs are now capitalising on the Setahun Jagung term and have called their burger ANC SetahunJagung. Drinks ice kacang with Setahun Jagung,T shirts are also being made. This political spat will and are a windfall for some people who knows how to cash in.

Social media is abuzz and love him or hate him the Tourism Minister has waded into the battlefield and got on with his work. Nazri’s agenda will only surface long after he is gone. But it will do no good to Sarawak or Sabah if its already in full implementation. Sabah Tourism Minister Masidi Manjun have also joined in the chorus of agreeing with Karim and even PRS Youth Chief and Assistant Minister Snowdon Lawan came out to openly support .

Nazri as a senior cabinet Minister should not have reacted the way he did and he was Overheated in his responses which will have a detrimental effect on the Tourism Industry.

Anyway,Politics is interesting at the best of times when the right subject matter surfaces.

Mawan’s Unquestionable Loyalty.

Is the Prime Minister Najib Razak going to abandon Tan Sri Mawan as the winnable candidate for P205 Saratok?

Truthfully, Strategically and Politically we don’t think so. One can say its just our opinion but in this interview with Mawan he tells us some “liitle secrets” which will infact more than tickle PDP.

 PM Najib knows that Tan Sri Mawan in Saratok occupies the “High Ground” Najibs first rule as always is to occupy the heights which he has practised from the day he knows, reads and advised by those who also subsribe to this fundamental law of Sun Tzu which is” In battle and manoeuvring. all armies prefer high ground to low ground.”

Najib has the report and it was he in 2013 during GE13 who came to give full moral support as the Commander in Chief when all seems lost as PKR Ali Biju was gaining ground. It was not Ali Biju who was strong at that time but those SPDP members in the Jelaing’s and his group who turned against the party themselves. Mawan even remembers that he had to sought help from outside Saratok to fight and engage not only a common enemy in PKR but so called SPDP insiders within the party who were trying to dethrone the President to claim a memorable scalp for themselves.

Mawan himself quotes this,” There is no winnability without loyalty. Everyone claims to be winnable. Barisan Nasional will need to pick the most winnable. It is of course UNQUESTIONABLE  LOYALTY. We must quell all these aspiring and lobbyists as Barisan spirit must reign supreme.”

He continued without Prime Minister Najib Razak and he as the President then fighting for the party SPDP today Saratok will have fallen to PKR.

Where were the ones and the rests of them who stakes a claim for PDP today when he needs them most at the time?

The SG and MP Mas Gading Anthony Nogeh should thank Mawan for his political ascension to be a candidate as he fought very hard for him to be there in 2013. Did he forget that Tiki Laffe was the choice? Mawan not only pleaded with the top BN leadership and was shown the ‘cold eyes” by the top man. The SPDP machinery was mobilised by those loyal to Mawan and of course Nogeh was elected.

Politically as SG he should be more subtle by following his President Tiong King Sing’s words who even said he would leave it to PM and CM to pick the candidate. He would have done himself a world of good by saying,” Mawan is welcomed back with Open Arms” Instead he harped and agreed to YB Harry Jinep who is very much Junior in hierarchy by fully supporting that the Saratok seat should go to PDP as it is traditionally a PDP seat.

Mawan knows that they are many aspiring and suitable candidates but they are Stacking their claims in front of his eyes as he is the incumbent? Nogeh and Jinep are jabbing and throwing punches to see how “his chin” will take it? Mawan will go the full 15 rounds with them as he still subscribes to UNITY  in Barisan Nasional.

He continued which fittingly are excerpts from his book,”there may be internal party matters or possibly some misunderstanding between members of component parties. If left unchecked,these may give rise to ill-feelings and suspicion,which are not healthy to Barisan Nasional.

Indeed,we cannot afford to have rivalry,competition and suspicion,in whatever sheds or modes and at whatever levels among us,especially when we are committed to pooling our resources and strenghts as people of Barisan nasional to advance the cause of DEVELOPMENT and stave off the opposition from standing in the way between us and the rakyat.

Mawan will not throw punches to give a knockout punch to those aspiring to be candidate for P205 yet as he knows that those behind them have “old scores to settle”and he wants to guide them through when it is time for him to call it a day. GE14 will be a tough battle for the PM Najib and Mawan knows he will not let the PM down and will deliver the seat to BN.

PM Najib will know that Saratok is not an easy seat to contain with and he needs an experienced hand and not someone who is “new plus a greenhorn‘ to stake a claim from the Incumbent Mawan.

PDP can stake the claim but it will regrettably be lost for the party in the long run if Mawan is not given the “CERTIFICATE” to stand as a BN appointed candidate. Afterall, all the 222 candidates for the upcoming GE14 are standing on Barisan Nasional ticket and not on individual party basis.

Mawans parting shot in this interview short of saying,” UNITY AND CONSENSUS” is the way for PDP and he sees himself as the bridge that can be connected back for the greater good of Barisan Nasional.

Unquestionably  President Tiong also knows that Mawan is very LOYAL to BN and he is very much a Certified Winnable candidate for his party and for BN. PM Najib and CM Abang Jo will use their political wisdom to ensure that P205 will stay as a stronghold for BN and they will not need to look further than to stick on with the Incumbent.

A Formidable and Winnable BN Quartet

Oh No! Is this necessary to put a message across.

Have these 4 Parliamentarians from PDP suddenly being caricatured ?

Surely, one cannot take them only as face value as between them staying United as a Formidable Force towards GE14 will make PM Najib’s work as Barisan Chairman much easier.

Tiong and Mawan carry with them many years of experience going into an election and Nogeh and Anyi would certainly benefit as they enter into the election ring for only the 2nd time.

Working together and responding to the ground level will very much be in the minds of Sarawak BN Chairman Abang Jo and National Barisan Chairman Najib Razak for this “Formidable Winnable Quartet”.  BN will not take the chance of changing any of the 4 faces as it will backlash unnecessary and create a not so favourable “HEADACHE” for the Barisan Nasional .

Of course in any election its not a certainty SURE WIN for any candidate but they will be a thorough breakdown on each individual candidacy and the constituency they represent.                                    These 4 incumbent candidates :-

P192  Dato Anthony Nogeh  Gumbek ( Mas Gading)

P205 Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (Saratok)

P217 Dato Seri Tiong King Sing (Bintulu)

P220 Tuan Anyi Ngau (Baram)

Barisan Nasional will come to consensus and even the Party President in a telephone interview was quick to point out that especially to the candidacy of William Mawan BN MP Saratok and ADUN Pakan.

The specific question of course the candidacy of Mawan to be fielded as candidate. In  his usual no nonsense and direct answer DS Tiong said,”It’s not for me to decide . It’s for the Prime Minister to decide.” 

Mawan in a Press Statement have this to say on Saratok Parliamentary seat,” I am fully Entrenched in Servicing Saratok and I am not taking a step backward. I have moved so far and therefore it is almost impossible to make a RETREAT.”

There are many who are working tirelessly to see this uneasy political chapter to come to a an amicable solution and to see this divide be history. The latest to come out openly came from Tasik Biru YB and Supreme Council member Datuk Henry Jinep who gave a clear  political statement ,”It’s up to the BN leadership to decide and the party PDP have stacked their claim.” 

Enough is enough and this political uncertainty must be put to the back burners as the BN goes into the GE14. Political wisdom and intervention will be used by both the top BN leaders to ensure that the 4 incumbent parliamentarians will be returned as MP after the General Election. 

The critical advantage of fielding the 4 Formidable Incumbents by BN gives added advantage and the smell of victory will not be down to “CHANCES” The voters in this constituency will want to see their Member of Parliament who have worked the ground and are approachable by all sections of the the community.

Without a doubt, PM Najib and CM Abang Jo will not have many ‘sleepless nights‘ when these 4 Formidable and Winnable BN Quartet is finalised.