Nansian breaks his silence on Mas Gading
by Johnson K Saai, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on April 25, 2013, Thursday
KUCHING: Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie, who has been pressured by several quarters to state his stand on Mas Gading in the May 5 general election, finally broke his silence yesterday by saying that he could campaign for the BN – but not in Mas Gading.
“I will still attend and grace official functions in Mas Gading. The only difference is when it comes to Mas Gading, there will strictly be no campaigning by me because I do not want to further split the people there,” he told a press conference in his office at MJC here yesterday.
“Furthermore, I am very sure that even if I helped BN to campaign in Mas Gading, no one will take my words seriously.
“So, the best thing is to remain silent because silence is golden, and abstaining is the best (thing to do) because I will not make things worse.”
Nansian, who is also Assistant Industrial Development Minister (Industrial Estate) and Assistant Minister Of Community Services, has been in a spot since nomination day on April 20 because a member of the G5, Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, decided to stand as an independent candidate when BN did not renominate him to defend Mas Gading.
The G5 comprises five elected representatives who were sacked by SPDP more than a year ago for gross insubordination. Besides Nansian and Dr Tiki, the other members are Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entrie Muran, Rosey Yunus (Bekenu assemblywoman), and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau assemblyman).
Together they formed the BN Club, which has yet to be registered, and brand themselves as ‘BN-friendly’.
Nansian said preserving unity and avoiding conflict of interest were the primary reasons why he was not at the nomination centre on April 20.
Mas Gading will see a four-cornered fight in the 13th general election, polling of which is on May 5.
Representing BN-SPDP is Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, and others in the fray are Mordi Bimol (DAP) and Patrick Anek Uren (STAR).
Nansian said since Dr Tiki was part of the BN Club and was contesting as an independent, anything he (Nansian) said or do would definitely split the people in Mas Gading.
“There have already been lots of conflict of interests in Mas Gading, and with me inside it will make matters even worse
because definitely I will take side.
because definitely I will take side.
Nansian added that he was willing to campaign in other areas, including Bintulu, Saratok and Baram, because he supported the BN.
“I am a BN elected representative and still a BN man.”
On his position in the government, Nansian said he was still an assistant minister and would thus discharge his duties accordingly.
“I will carry out my job as entrusted by the government for as long as they give me the chance to serve. For as long as
the rakyat and government support me, I am prepared to serve the rakyat to the best of my ability.
the rakyat and government support me, I am prepared to serve the rakyat to the best of my ability.
He also thanked Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud for clarifying the matter on Tuesday.
Taib has said that he would allow Nansian to remain in the Cabinet until a solution could be reached between the partyless Nansian and SPDP.
He added that Nansian’s position in the cabinet would be treated as temporary to allow time for further discussions between SPDP and the G5 members
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