The day of reckoning is close at hand for all the 31 Incumbent Sarawak MP’s from both political divide as Sarawakians will vote for their Parliamentarians in GE14 soon. Who will be dropped,reappointed and also new faces is very much on the MENU.
Everyone wants a piece of this action in social media groups,press releases and also in many cafes and coffeeshop. There are far too many “stories” circulating around and this too have driven a wedge amongst political alliances and friends.
In 2013 general elections the Sarawak Barisan National (BN )won 25 out of the 31 seats while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won 6 seats.
The seats breakdown are as follows 14 by PBB; 6 by PRS; 4 by SPDP and 1 by SUPP. DAP won 5 and PKR won 1. The names are as follows.
BN Sarawak GE13 candidates fielded and inserted are the PR candidates who won the 6 seats.
P192 Mas Gading – Nogeh Gumbek
P193 Santubong – Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
P194 Petra Jaya – Datuk Fadillah Yusof
P195 Bandar Kuching – Tan Kai – DAP (Chong Chieng Jen won)
P196 Stampin – Datuk Yong Khoon Seng- DAP (Julian Tan won)
P197 Kota Samarahan – Rubiah Wang
P198 Mambong – Datuk James Dawos Mamit
P199 Serian – Datuk Richard Riot Jaem
P200 Batang Sadong – Nancy Shukri
P201 Batang Lupar – Datuk Seri Rohani Karim
P202 Sri Aman – Masir Kujat
P203 Lubok Antu – William Nyalau Badak
P204 Betong – Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas
P205 Saratok – Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom
P206 Tanjung Manis – Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman
P207 Igan – Datuk Abdul Wahab Dolah
P208 Sarikei – Ding Kuong Hing- DAP (Wong Ling Bui won )
P209 Julau – Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum
P210 Kanowit – Aaron Ago Dagang
P211 Lanang – Datuk Tiong Thai King- DAP (Alice Lau won)
P212 Sibu – Vincent Lau Lee Ming – DAP (Oscar Ling won)
P213 Mukah – Datuk Seri Muhammad Leo Toyad
P214 Selangau – Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun
P215 Kapit – Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi
P216 Hulu Rajang – Wilson Ugak Kumbong
P217 Bintulu – Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing
P218 Sibuti – Ahmad Lai Bujang
P219 Miri – Datuk Sebastian Ting – PKR (Dr.Micheal Teo Yu Keng won)
P220 Baram – Anyie Ngau
P221 Limbang – Hasbi Habibollah
The General Elections will be CM Abang Jo’s first LITMUS TEST in leading the Sarawak BN into the GE14. The by elections for the state seat of Tanjong Datu was won handsomely but one cannot read too much into that as its has been a stronghold of BN and also sympathy votes played a crucial role as it was the seat of the late “Tok Nan”
We know from past experiences in the GE that the CM will present his list to the PM after he has consulted and carefully vetted by the State strategic election committee. The PM will only step in to “change or replace” a candidate if he feels there is a need to.
There will of course be many ‘lobbyists” who will want to have their candidates fielded and its a very normal democratic way for both sides of the political divide. There will be many “stranger than fiction” write ups presented and some reports are also very biased in order to secure the candidacy and a right to be fielded.
The call by Deputy PM Zahid Hamdi for BN candidates now are winnable,likeable and of course acceptable by the Top BN leadership.
PM Najib has this formula and he stressed that state BN component parties must nominate only the most winnable candidates. “Please give only winnable candidates and I want only winnable candidates. I don’t want your favourite persons to be candidates.”
In other words PM Najib has the final say in the lists of candidates presented and he will ensure that his S.O.P. is adhered to especially so as he is the BN Chairman and commander in chief leading them into GE14.
In recent months, there has been a lot of speculations on the BN list who will be fielded,replaced or dropped. There has been much anxiety and a lot of dirty linen washed up in public which the opposition parties are only too happy to mount a challenge to get a few more seats for themselves. Is it possible?
Many political sources are of the same opinion that the State BN will maintain or get more seats back from the opposition. BN Sarawak is after all a fixed deposit and only a ‘sudden upswing of unexpected events might stop the trend .
The poster above are just a few of the BN Members of Parliament that have been in the limelight in recent months but that does not mean that the other 15 incumbents have already SECURED their passport and ticket to be fielded. DAP and PKR will have their own list of names and there are also speculations that some incumbents will be dropped to make way for new faces. They though have kept it close to their chests and of course it will only be revealed during nomination day. The same principle applies to BN.
An emeritus professor said to us,’ Age will not play a factor in this GE14 and we only have to look at Donald Trump who pulled it off at 72 years old to be President of United States. Also it does seem that Dr.Mahathir Mohammad at 91 is aiming to stand again which in itself is which SAYS IT ALL.”
In recent months we have been continuously been informed and have also kept tabs on the following incumbent MP’s who have seen their seats being “hotbeds” with many speculations some of which are too good to be true. To add more flavours and toppings are that there is a NEW MAN in Abang Jo as CM and those favoured by the late “Tok Nan” will have to call time to their parliamentary life.
P198 Mambong.-Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos( Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water)
The incumbent MP James Dawos assumed office as a Parliamentarian in 1999. Its crystal clear that he is not seeking reelection He said,”“I’m stepping down..I’ll not seek re-election in the coming 14th general election due to health reason. Also my poor health has made me unable to continue with my political career.”
There are many suitors for this seat and so far 12 individuals have been promoting themselves actively through Facebook and other social media. Many are even moving actively on the ground. According to Tarat Assemblyman,” This is a democratic country, anybody can lobby but at the end of the day only one will be chosen.”
P199 Serian. Datuk Seri Richard Riot (Human Resources Minister)
The only seat won by SUPP in GE14 and the flag bearer for the party in Parliament. There has been a whole lot of unhealthy noises coming from his Ministry that the PM is not happy with his ministerial performances,very lethargic and also many officers are not working closely with him. It’s too good to be true and knowing the MP he is a straight talker and he will not just sweep it under the carpet. So is Age the factor here?
The incumbent MP at age 66 has declared that he is still fit to serve as Serian MP. He will not want to be pushed out so easily and he said,”I assure the people of Serian that I can still serve as their representative and even US President Donald Trump took office at the age of 72.” We know very well that the Party President Professor Senator Datuk Sim Kui Hian is all for his reelection and his name will appear top of the 7 SUPP candidates for GE14. That will be sufficient for now to speculate on one of the incumbents weak point and that is AGE. He is very much a Winnable candidate for P199 Serian.
P203 Lubok Antu – Datuk William Nyalau Badak
It was reported in the Press that according to a reliable source that Nyallau (age 65) had indicated that the 13th general election will be his last. In the same article it was also speculated that PRS would most likely field its first woman candidate to replace Nyallau. Is this true?
The incumbent MP have come out fighting and he said,”It is not true that I ever mentioned wanting to withdraw in private or public. In fact I still want to represent the people of Lubok Antu as their member of Parliament even after the next election. I have a good track record and am still able to carry on.”
He said the false allegation that he sought withdrawal was the work of certain quarters who are lobbying to become BN candidate for Lubok Antu. His strongest words were,”The fact that they do not want their identity known in the papers only goes to show their character.It is s normal for people to lobby to become BN candidate but don’t resort to lying and deceit.”
P201 Batang Lupar – Datuk Seri Rohani Karim (Women, Family and Community Development Minister )
She has served as an MP for 27 years already and she must make way for the younger ones in PBB to take over. There is no logic whatsoever to use this against her unless the HIDDEN HANDS wants to put a dent to her career as Minister in the Federal Government. There are intense lobbying within the circles to stop her from being nominated and in that they will achieve their goal to wrestle back the “Favoured Ministry after GE14.
It has also been known that there are many sour grapes as she is outperforming many of her predecessors in work commitment and internationally being recognised. They are also using the words,” Spent too much time for Sarawak only and neglecting other Peninsular States.” There are many envious politicians who would want to see her fail and we know for a fact that the present CM Sarawak Abang Jo will not be pressured to drop her unless there is a major scandal of some sort which will obviously rock the boat in PBB.
Surely, the Minister who is a very much likeable and winnable will have a word or two to silence all the critics in her own way.
P205 Saratok – Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom
Against all odds, in the 2013 General Election William Mawan himself as SPDP president was challenged by all quarters from within the party itself, he won in P205 Saratok, against a “Formidable Candidate” in Ali Biju of PKR. He was given a helping hand by the Prime Minister Najib himself to stop PKR from a giant killing act in detroning the President of SPDP.
Today, Mawan is partyless having relinquished his post as TERAS President on the advised of the late CM Sarawak to stand as a BN direct candidate in Pakan in the last State elections in the last minute .
He has also forgone his State Ministership having won as a State assemblyman to better serve the people of Saratok as their Member of Parliament and also have indicated that he is willing to step down as State assemblyman for Pakan in order to stand as a BN Candidate for GE14.
Obviously the party now called PDP have their own “lobbyists” who are using all ways and methods to go against their former President. Its a fact that Mawan himself has been a very loyal BN man and there are no reasons whatsoever for the top hierarchy in BN not to renominate him.
Mawan himself in a Press Statement,” 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.”
Even PDP President Tiong knows it well that Mawan is a likeable and winnable candidate and he said this to a journalist on Mawan for the Saratok seat,” It’s not for me to decide . It’s for the Prime Minister to decide.”
P213 Mukah – Datuk Seri Muhammad Leo Toyad
According to many political analysts they say its high time that the MP (age 67) make way for a new face for the Mukah Parliamentary seat as he had helmed that seat since 1982. They also believed that he has reached his political pinnacle after having been appointed Tourism Minister before he was dropped from the federal cabinet in 2006.
There are at least 5 potential younger lobbyists for this Mukah seat and according to a very senior PBB member he says he read in a report by a journalist that headlines”Sarawak politics everything happens in the shadows. On the surface there are visible changes and faces but beneath runs a deep invisible political web that fuels seemingly endless possibilities.
He continued, there are speculations that even MP Datuk Wahab Dolah (Igan) and MP Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman( Tanjong Manis) might be replaced with younger and fresh faced candidates. He was quick to point out that there must be a “balance for experience to lead the younger candidates” and he cannot see the possibility of dropping all the 3 candidates in the Melanau hinterland.
Even now he said that a female candidate in the person of daughter of the Governor of Sarawak Hanifah Hajar Taib is being touted to replaced the incumbent MP of Mukah. Her name is thrown into the “hat” and for the rest of the lobbyists it would be a mountain to climb if Hanifah herself works the ground to go all out to be the nominated candidate for Mukah. She certainly fits the bill for a winnable candidate and time will be on her side to win over the constituents.
P193 Santubong – Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Minister of Natural Resources and Environment )
We were told by a very Senior Aide to the Deputy PM that this Minister should have been appointed to the Federal Cabinet long time ago. It seems that he has a Midas Touch in the Ministry which he helms and that Ministry will benefit in more ways than one.
There is no stopping this man and at age (71) he is very fit and always on the move and visiting his constituency and roaming around the country like a fresh faced Parliamentarian. Even Donald Trump (age72) would love to interact with this Minister as he is making the NRE Ministry something for many Malaysians to be proud of.
Even the Ministry staff had this to say about him,’the ‘Great Minister’ for his commitment and resoluteness in ensuring sustainable management of natural resources at the international level throughout this year.
They also hailed him as “Captain” of the ship heading towards excellence and the senior aide to DPM must have noticed that this Minister works in tandem with the PM and DPM and the rest of the cabinet colleagues.
Are there any other reasons for anyone not to renominate him as a candidate for GE14? Age here is not a factor and when he is on the ground interacting with everyone he is always there to listen and exchange ideas no matter how ‘ambiquous” it might be.
In CM Sarawaks maiden by-election Wan Juniadi was instrumental as Director Of Operations and MP Santubong in helping the Tanjong Datu Candidate in Jamillah Anu securing an overwhelming majority win. The Assemblyman of Demak Laut,Pantai Damai and now Tanjong Datu will stand behind Wan Junaidi even though many say Age is not on his side. CM Sarawak will have no hesitation to endorse him even though some quarters will be very much against him.
For argument and opinion sake in this instance AGE is not the factor for his renomination.
P220 Baram – Anyie Ngau
In the last GE13 Anyi Ngau barely scrapped through as a candidate for SPDP. His majority was razor thin of 242 and many potential lobbyists are just waiting for the signal from PDP to replace the incumbent. He polled 9182 against Roland Engan PKR 8988 and independent Patrick Sibat 363
The MP came out to defend his candidacy in a press conference and he was quoted to have said this ,”called on his supporters to be patient and wait for the announcement on whether he would get to defend the Baram seat for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming 14th general election. He said it is necessary that they should wait for the ‘green light’ from the prime minister, who is the national BN chairman.
He was also seen at the State Assembly when TERAS was formed and made a U-turn and apparently the top leadership in the party are fighting back and to replace him.
MP Anyi is magnanimous in that ,”he stressed that even if he were not chosen, he would support the BN candidate to ensure that the BN continues to represent the people in Baram. As a BN man, I will support whoever the BN will pick as its candidate and I’m duty-bound to ensure that he can deliver for the ruling coalition.”
In the event that he is not renominated the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Marudi assemblyman Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said this,”We are also ready in the event that the top BN leadership decided to field a new candidate for Baram”
Its winnable and likeable for BN top leadership and PDP would be listening also to ground support for a BN win in Baram.
P214 Selangau – Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun
MP Selangau and Minister in Prime Minister’s Department has also made his stand in a statement that ,” all PRS parliamentarians (MPs) to be renominated, unless they do not want to serve anymore.” This is a very strong statement and it signifies unity for the party to go into the GE14.
Entulu has made a rallying cry for the women wing last year,” he threw a challenge to them to identify the constituencies and women candidates they wish to put up in future elections, the (PRS Women Wing) are compiling the names and will submit our list to the president soon.”
Its a good move, but it does seem now its biting back at him. In a recent press report the headlines read,’PRS wants to field 2 new faces in GE14″
The source in says that “although he (Masing) has personally announced that Datuk Masir Kujat would be retained and renominated to defend Sri Aman,anything can happen in the last minute.”
Moreover if Masir is retained, then the political casualty is the party deputy president Joseph Entulu. “if Masing sticks to his decision to retain Masir, and if the Prime Minister decides not to overrule his choice of candidates,then Entulu is the casualty.
Does the President see a need for a change in parliamentarians for PRS? Only he knows what is best for the party and to secure a 100% victory will be his top priority. It is also at the expense of dropping incumbent MPs.
MP Joseph Entulu would need to work the ground for more solid support which will ensure that the top BN leadership would take notice of and ensure that he is renominated for GE14.
P206 Tanjung Manis – Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman
How could anyone even think or have the audacity of replacing Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman? This is a million dollar question which we are even perplexed.
The incumbent MP won uncontested in 2008 and proved her mettle again in 2013 with a very convincing win of 12535 against PAS candidate who only managed 1571 votes. The ground is alive with many speculations of her not visiting the constituency enough times and also that her health of late is not permitting her to visit the constituency. Moreover with the passing of Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub if she is renominated it would be a harder struggle for her as her absence and always in KL is the “buzz” word.
We do not want to speculate as much as many others have been taking on in the social media but its up to the BN leadership to sort the ‘sudden shakiness” and movement hitting the ground. If there is a need to address the situation the BN will put it right and we are sure that all the lies ,deceit and allegation would be put to rest.
The BN top leadership has already made it clear that they will only look at winnable,likeable and not favouritism for any candidacy.
On this note it seems that MP Norah will be renominated unless she wants to call it a day herself.
In summing up audie61 has this to say,” As long as one can deliver and walk the hundred of miles in campaigning and servicing the constituencies no one must be deprived of the right to be eligible to be a candidate. Malaysian Parliamentarians have come a long way and in this borderless and high technologically advanced age nothing will escape the scrutiny of Malaysians and the World.”
AGE WILL NEVER BE A FACTOR WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINAL ASSESSMENT FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.
The impossible seems now more probable as Minister in Prime Minister’s Deparment Nancy Shukri has found the “formula”
If the Sarawak State Government have not done anything or lifted a finger DAP Pending Assemblyman have every right to issue the statement above. The last few days 18th to 21st February 2016 the amount of rain that has fallen in the Kuching Division even the best drainage system will not be able to contain the gallons of water the rain brought .
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