KUCHING: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) is enjoying increasing support from all races in Sarawak.
The party president Datuk Seri William Mawan said this was because SPDP is the most multi-racial party in Sarawak, adding that it is not just in name but in reality.
Hence he challenged all SPDP leaders at the grass root-level to recruit more new members and has set the target of 20,000 new members state-wide this year.
“SDPD is gaining more support. There is no big and small party in BN. We have to work together because we have the social obligations to help the people. Let move on, that is what Malaysia, Sarawak and SPDP is all about,” he said in an interview.
He also stressed the need for the party to build closer rapport with the people.
“SPDP may seem small by some people but that is not true because we are actually strong.
Mawan has recently stated it clear that the party will not swap seats with any component party.
The Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation also warned other Barisan National (BN) component parties not to make his party the scapegoat when it involves dispute in the individual component parties or within Barisan Nasional (BN).
“We have to work hard hand in hand with SUPP, PRS and PBB when it is necessary. We don’t have to whack each other. Don’t find scapegoat, don’t drive ourselves to this cheap politics,” said Mawan.
He explained that SPDP present in areas which are not its seat was to consolidate BN’s effort.
“Some people are not happy in SPDP, some may not be happy in PRS, SUPP and PBB for that matter, but they can join any component party to support BN,” he added.
Mawan said people has been talking and speculating about SPDP swapping Meluan state seat with Pelagus but stressed that it has never been discussed in SPDP.
“I have been quoted willing to swap seat. We should reject such proposal because we in SPDP don’t have any problem with our seats.
“People said let swap Meluan seat but we never talk in wanting to swap seats,” he said.
On Pelagus seat, Mawan said it was PRS and BN problem although the party can help to solve but SPDP don’t have to lose seat (Meluan) just to solve Pelagus which is PRS seat presently held by partyless representative Larry Sng.
“All the seats we hold we have no problem at all with it. Nobody is going to move out. If Ngemah seat is having problem we can help to solve but we don’t have to lose seat.
Nevertheless, he stressed that SPDP will help BN to win all the problematic seats in the election.
On the party Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held in Bintulu on February 28, Mawan said the Chief Minister will be invited to officiate the opening.
He said at the AGM the delegates will discuss the party strategies in face the coming state election.
“The election will be held soon, we got to be ready for it. If it is Sarawak election we have to work hard, and if it is going to be held simultaneously with the parliamentary election then we have to work extra harder,” he stressed.
He said the party members need to work harder to win all eight seats in order to move forward and be respected as partner of BN.
“Election is coming, we got to face it in the spirit of brotherhood and should be able to win all the seats.
He said the central region need the attention of SPDP, adding that SUPP and SPDP got to work together as the oppositions is gaining support in the area.
He reminded that nothing that the opposition could do to solve any problem in the central region.
