Nansian says Taib and PM doesn't support BN SPDP and will choose Tiki Lafe

Nansian chides SPDP, sure BN chairman favours his group

Borneo Post March 26, 2012, Monday

BAU: Partyless Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie apparently believes that Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman cum Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will elbow his former party Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and favour his group in the issue of candidacy.
This was what he seemed to mean when he said: “It is up to BN to pick the candidate to contest in Mas Gading (parliamentary seat) even though it is traditionally a SPDP seat.”
He also appeared to be challenging his former party to name their pick early.
He pointed out point blank that since the sacking of Mas Gading incumbent Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe from the party, all the party did was make an announcement that it would pick either one of the five new faces it had been bandying about to defend Mas Gading.
That, he said, showed that SPDP was very much confused about who to choose unlike his group (called the G5 by the media) which was very certain in picking partyless Dr Tiki to defend the seat for the ruling coalition.
“They (SPDP) are very confused now. But for us, there is no confusion as we only have one candidate which is Dr Tiki. BN cannot afford to lose this seat and must come up with a winnable candidate for that seat.
“Dr Tiki has the support of the grassroots and he will continue fighting for the seat,” Nansian told the press yesterday.
He was met after the launching of phase two of the Christian cemetery at Nirvana Memorial Park here.
He added: “Anybody can be nominated by anyone for that seat but it is up to BN to have the final say on who should be contesting.”
When asked about Dr Tiki’s apparent ‘willingness’ to reconcile with the party as long as SPDP met his conditions, Nansian said Dr Tiki was only joking about the matter.
“He (Dr Tiki) is only joking,” Nansian insisted.
He alleged that SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom never keeps his words and any hope of reconciliation would be futile.
“It is not about us standing firm on reconciliation but it is just that Mawan can not keep his words,” he claimed.
During the opening ceremony of SPDP’s triennial general assembly in Bintulu on March 18, state BN chairman cum Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud seemed to clear the air over the Mas Gading candidacy issue by stating that SPDP had the right to pick the candidate and Najib would endorse it.
SPDP is still in the midst of assessing the new faces in the form of Salcra deputy general manager Anthony Nogeh, ZECON general manager Rayan Narong, prominent businessman Henry Harry Jinep and his elder brother, Sarawak Rivers Board controller William Jinep.
The party is also considering Dayak Bidayuh National Association president Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, who is also permanent secretary to the Tourism Ministry.
The party chose not to pick Dr Tiki simply because he had been booted out for insubordination as well as for colluding with Nansian and three other office bearers to undermine party solidarity.
SPDP has also maintained that BN is a coalition of political parties.