Larry Sng vs William Nyalau, Wong Judat vs Joseph Salang and Anak George Lagong vs Ugak Kumbong?

Dickson Anak George Lagong

SWP confirms Lagong for Hulu Rajang, Judat for Julau

by Lian Cheng and James Ling, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on March 2, 2013, Saturday

KUCHING: Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) has confirmed it will field Pelagus assemblyman George Lagong in Hulu Rajang and Meluan assemblyman Wong Judat in Julau in the coming parliamentary election.

SWP president Larry Sng announced Lagong’s candidacy during a gathering at Uma Daro, Sungai Asap on Thursday.

“He’s the party’s best candidate for this seat and we’ll fight to win,” said Sng.

“The party is serious about Hulu Rajang and George has been working hard on the ground. We’re explaining the party’s policy and its direction so as to offer the people better service.”

Lagong stood as an independent in Pelagus during the 2011 state election and defeated Stanley Nyitar from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) by polling 5,740 votes against Stanley’s 2,903 votes for a majority of 2,837.

SWP had announced Judat’s nomination earlier and Sng said he was chosen because he is a winnable candidate.

The party president dismissed rumours that SWP would only focus on three areas, in which its candidates had higher chances of winning, due to a lack of resources.

“I believe our announcement will clear the air. We are very serious in winning in this parliamentary election. We fight to win. It is a fight for survival and the people. This is not a water-testing effort.”

He stressed that his party would also contest in Kanowit, Selangau, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman.

Speculation is rife that Sng will contest in Lubok Antu, while his father Datuk Sng Chee Hua is eyeing the Selangau seat.

All six seats targeted by SWP are currently held by Barisan Nasional (BN) through PRS.

Hulu Rajang is expected to see a multi-cornered contest. PRS has already named Wilson Ugak Kumbong, private secretary to the Minister of Land Development Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, as its choice to defend the seat for BN.

Abun Sui from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has also thrown his hat into the ring.

Compounding the situation, incumbent MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo has also made it clear that he has no intention of standing aside for Ugak. Lagong stood as an independent in the last parliamentary election and lost in a straight fight to Abit.

“Lagong used to stand as an independent but this time round, he will be standing as an SWP member. With SWP’s machinery, we believe he stands a good chance,” Sng told The Borneo Post yesterday.

“For the rest of the seats, our election committee will decide the candidates and we will announce it at the right time and right place.”

Andy Lawrence and William Pilo, son of former Simanggang assemblyman Michael Pilo, are speculated to be shortlisted by SWP to stand in Sri Aman, while Ellison Ludan Muyan is in the running for Kanowit.

In response, Masing, who is PRS president, described the confirmation of the two SWP candidates as ‘very interesting’.

“He (Sng) said all the candidates would be young and professional. I am not sure how the two (Lagong and Judat) fit the description,” said Masing, who expelled Sng from PRS in 2009.

On the two candidates, he said the people could make their own judgement based on the duo’s performance as assemblymen in their respective constituencies.