While BN Sarawak is hit by severe defections in its component parties (see attachment below) the top leader is fighting in all ways possible to hang on tom power via simultaneous elections (see 2nd attachment below). It does not take any partisan observer to sense some desperation on the part of Taib to pursue the simultaneous elections -BN national still have plenty of time-3 years, before the national poll is due. Does Taib think that his political survival is so important to BN-while the UMNO’s media and Secretary General had said that BN will surely win Sarawak with or without Taib? In fact there are people who argue that the BN’s chances could be better without Taib! Thus the pursuit of simultaneous elections by Taib could be at cross purpose with the thinking in BN/UMNO HQ. The more it sounds like the simultaneous elections is just for 1 man the persuasive power is weakened. The more this appear so the more it reflect desperation by the 1 man….Should the date for Sarawakian voters to choose their leader being hijacked by the self-serving calculation of 1 man?
PRS strongman quits BN, slams ‘bully’ Taib
Parti Rakyat Sarawak strongman Tedwin Ngumbang’s move out of Barisan Nasional’s fold is a boost to resurging Sarawak National Party (SNAP).
KUCHING: In a shocking move Parti Rakyat Sarawak’s (PRS) strongman Tedwin Ngumbang has quit the party he founded, slamming Chief Minister Taib Mahmud for ‘bullying and ignoring’ PRS.
Ngumbang, who is ‘special adviser’ to party president James Masing, said Taib ‘consistenty ignored’ Masing’s requests and demands which were in the interest of the Dayak community and this compelled him to resign.
“I am uncomfortable to see PRS being bullied and ignored by Taib.
“What the PRS president asks in the name and interest of Dayaks in letters to Taib, the chief minister does not reply. He just ignores them,” he said, pointing out that Masing tried his best.
Ngumbang’s resignation has shaken the political community in PRS as he is seen as someone who has ‘everything’ going for him, both in business and politics.
His move from his ‘comfort zone’ has thrown-up speculations of a possible exodus to revive Sarawak National Party (SNAP).
Ngumbang, who announced his decison to SNAP president Edwin Dundang after a SNAP symposium here yesterday, said: “I cannot stand it anymore. I cannot stand to see how Taib treats PRS and Masing.”
Citing the case of controversial assemblyman Larry Sng and the Pelagus seat, Ngumbang said Taib had added insult-to-injury when he ignored Masing’s call to replace Sng from his ministerial post.
“It was a slap for PRS. Larry (Sng) was sacked from PRS and Masing wanted him to be replaced as an assistant minister with another PRS elected representative.
“But Taib not only ignores Masing, but gives two more assistant ministerial posts to Sng. This is an insult not only to PRS, but to the Dayak community.
“I cannot stand this anymore,” he said.
Founding member
Ngumbang was one of those responsible for the formation of PRS during the leadership crisis of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) which led to its deregistration on Oct 21, 2004.
At the same time PRS was registered, claiming to replace PBDS.
And in the crisis of the newly formed PRS, Tedewin also played a leading role which led to the expulsion of Larry Sng from the party in April in 2009.
Commenting on Ngumbang’s resignation, PRS secretary general Wilfred Nissom said that he expected to receive the former’s resignation letter this Monday.
“Tedewin (Ngumbang) has a cause for which he has a strong feeling. We respect his decision to want to leave PRS in order to pursue his cause,” Nissom said.
Challenging Jabu?
Meanwhile Ngumbang’s resignation has prompted speculation that he may take on incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Numpang in the Layar constituency in the coming state election. Jabu has been representing the area for more than 36 years.
Ngumbang, who is related to Jabu, is very popular among the people of Layar.
Ngumbang is believed to ‘know the insides’ about Jabu and may want to use such information in the coming election.
“For the time being, I am assessing my chances in Layar,” said Ngumbang when asked of his plans.
“I want to talk to my supporters first … I want to know whether they prefer me or Joe Unggang,” he added, saying that he believed that a three-cornered fight was likely in Layar as PKR was also keen on the seat.
SNAP, which has its birthplace in Betong, is certain to contest the seat. In fact, it has identified a number of candidates for the seat.
SNAP secretary general Stanley Jugol welcomed Tedewin to join the party, but could not promise him anything.
“SNAP welcomes anyone who shares its struggle to join the party,” he said.
He agreed that Ngumbang’s move to SNAP will likely compell many more disillusioned members of the BN to join the party in the next few weeks.
Can Rosmah ‘pillow-talk’ Najib to ‘save’ Taib?
Pandering to Rosmah Mansor’s vanity, Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud is hoping, she will ‘call’ for joint polls.
KUALA LUMPUR: A revolt is simmering in Sarawak and is threatening to indirectly topple self-declared first lady, Rosmah Mansor, unless she manages to “pillow-talk” her husband Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak into holding concurrent polls.
Suave Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Taib Mahmud is pandering to Rosmah’s vanity and is hoping that her sweet-talk for “concurrent polls preferably in June” will save his hide.
To help Taib achieve this, is his wealthy flamboyant sister Raziah Mahmud, who is said to be very pally with Rosmah.
According to a FMT source, Taib has asked his sister to “persuade Rosmah to push Najib” into holding joint state and parliamentary polls “for BN’s own survival”.
“Taib has informed Najib of the ground situation. He believes Najib is mindful of this but there is no positive reaction.
“Now Taib wants his sister to help him convey to Rosmah the hard facts.
“Raziah will tell Rosmah that if Sarawak BN fails to deliver the parliamentary seats, then Najib will no longer be able to hold onto Putrajaya.
“He will not be prime minister and Rosmah, as the first lady, will be history,” said the source.
No Putrajaya
The source said Taib believed that by holding concurrent polls, the Pakatan Rakyat opposition pact will be stretched and resources divided.
“Being a peninsula-based party, Pakatan is going to focus its maximum efforts on retaining Selangor, Kedah, Penang and Kelantan while pushing for Perak and Negri Sembilan.
“But if we hold only state polls, then the opposition will come down on us like it did in Sibu,” said the source.
Meanwhile, another insider in Taib’s Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) party familiar with “rumours to rope in Rosmah” said the coalition was in dire need of “this particular federal assistance”.
“Umno in Sabah and in the peninsula is very divided. Najib is very dependent on Sarawak.
“We know this and unless both elections are held together there is no guarantee that BN can win a majority of the parliamentary seats in Sarawak.
“Sarawak has 31 parliamentary seats. The opposition holds two seats. We think we will lose more seats this coming general election.
“If this happens, then BN’s overall majority will be greatly reduced and it will definetly affect Najib’s bid to retain Putrajaya,” the source said, adding that if Sarawak BN failed to deliver the seats there was the “frightening” possibility of Umno muscling its way into the state.
Reduced majority
Barely 10 months ago, a confident Taib had rubbished talks of an emerging grassroots rebelllion.
He saw absolutely no threat in Sarawak opposition DAP, as the sole flagbearer holding a parliamentary seat.
Sarawak BN held 30 seats at the time, a nice number which helped seal BN’s grip on Putrajaya in the unexpected 2008 political tsunami.
Then blew the unprecedented Sibu wind which defied the political odds in Sarawak. DAP won its second seat.
In August last year, opposition chief Anwar Ibrahim said the Pakatan Rakyat coalition was “upbeat” about its chances in Sabah and Sarawak.
Speaking at a ceramah, Anwar had reportedly said: “They can hold on to Sabah and Sarawak. Najib has been going there over and over again and (his wife) Rosmah even went there to sing.
“But when we can wrest a seat in Sarawak (Sibu), it is a clear indication that the BN fortress has begun to crumble. All we need is less than half the seats in Sarawak and a few in Sabah, and Insyallah (God willing), we will take on Putrajaya.”
But much has happened in Anwar’s PKR, which, if truth be told, has shaken its members’ faith in the party, its policies and ability to lead.
“PKR is riding on DAP and, to some extent, PAS’ strength. On its own it can’t survive. In Sarawak, we have good capable PKR leaders but they are subject to KL’s law and that makes them useless to us.
“PKR also does not have much money, not like DAP… PKR expects Sarawak to take care of itself but long-term sustainability is not easy…” said a grassroots PKR member here.
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