SPDP members in Tarat and Bengoh constituencies increasing

Is Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) making its presence in areas not represented by the party in the State Legislative Assembly or Parliament? The answer is 'YES".

One of the areas is Mambong parliamentary constituency which is made up of the state seats of Bengoh and Tarat. The party's presence in the constituency was most welcomed by the people there. The number of members are increasing and majority of them are the youths.

The two pictures shows new members handing over the membership application forms to Captain Zainuddin Tan Sri Hamdan Sirat, SPDP Kuching Division Laison Officer.

Party president Dato Sri William Mawan, when speaking at the SPDP Mambong charity dinner on November 6 aid its growing presence in Mambong should not be viewed as a threat by fellow Barisan Nasional (BN) components.

He allayed such fears by stressing that SPDP, being a multi-racial party, could be a platform for the people of various racial backgrounds to work together and consolidate the BN in the area.
“People may say, ‘what business has SPDP got in Mambong?’ Don’t think like that because we are here for the consolidation of BN. There is no need to be suspicious.

“We will throw our support to the BN candidate here. If you are opposition-inclined, we want to get you to support the BN.

“There is nothing wrong to get as many new SPDP members in Bengoh and Tarat for as long as they belong to the BN,” he said.

He said this had to be done to counter the threats posed by the opposition which gained strength and formed the government in several states in the peninsula after the 2008 general election.

“We can’t be racist and polarise ourselves. If we stay at one corner and look at things from one political introverted angle, it will not serve the BN.

Mawan stressed yesterday that SPDP’s priority in the next state election was to ensure BN’s victory.

“We have our traditional seats and we have our incumbents. At the moment we are sticking to them.
“Incumbents will be recommended to defend their seats and we have prepared them for the elections.
“We have the areas but we don’t mind swapping or exchanging areas so long a Barisan wins. That is the most important thing,” Mawan stressed.

“Other people are welcome to point to us areas which they think we could defend better, and we will take them into consideration.

“If other people, groups or candidates in our area feel that they could defend Barisan seats better than SPDP come and talk to us," he added.

Meanwhile the charity dinner organised by SPDP Mambong to raise fund to build a new house for single mother Rosenah Anak Sijak, 41, from Kampung Garung has touched the hearts of many people.

They praised SPDP Mambong for the noble work which has never being held before by any other BN component party or the opposition.

Mambong SPDP built house for cancer-stricken widow

IT WAS a mission accomplished for SPDP Mambong following the completion of a new house for a single mother and her three children at Kampung Garung, along Jalan Puncak Borneo, about 40km from Kuching.

On November 6, a fund-raising dinner was successfully held at the Kota Padawan Community Hall, about 16km from Kuching. The dinner was organised by SPDP Mambong Recreation Club (Respdemop) headed jointly by Captain Zainuddin Bin Tan Sri Haji Hamdan Sirat and Captain Miron Ganguly .

The dinner was to raise fund to pay for the cost of Rosenah's new house.

At the dinner, Rosenah Sijak received the keys to her new house from SPDP president Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom.

Dubbed the House of Hopes, it was built through a gotong royong organised by the Mambong SPDP and coordinated by Supreme Council member Captain Zainuddin Tan Sri Hamdan Sirat and Captain Miron Ganguly.

Symbolic: Mawan presenting the key to Rosenah while Capt Zainuddin looks on.

Rosenah, 41, a single mother, and her three children had been staying in their dilapidated hut for many years.

Life became difficult for Rosenah and her three children after her husband died of lung cancer three years ago and she herself is now suffering from breast cancer.

The family’s plight was highlighted in The Star in September this year when Captain Zainuddin and a group of Mambong SPDP members visited the family.

Mawan, who is also Social Development and Urbanisation Minister graced the occasion which was attended by more than 800 people.

At the dinner, Mawan announced a RM15,000 grant from his ministry to Respdemop to pay for the costs of building the new house for Rosenah and his children.

Mawan also raised another RM3,075 donated by sponsors from among the audience for a song he was asked to sing.

The dinner also successfully raised RM800 from a bermukun event (poetry recital to the beat of the gendang) apart from song-request sponsorships. The money also go towards the building fund for Rosenah’s new home.

The fundraiser’s joint organising chairmen Captain Zainuddin and Captain Miron were delighted with the outcome and thanked those who contributed to the fund.

They said more such activities will be held to help those in need of such assistance.

Meanwhile, Rosenah thanked everyone who contributed to the fund and those who made donations to her family.

“My children and I are looking forward to moving into our new home,” she said

Her daughter Fassilah said she was looking forward to returning to school and waiting for a reply from the Education Department on whether she could continue with her studies.

Mawan praised the Mambong SPDP members for their noble act and wanted it to be emulated by other branches of the party.