SPDP open to differing views — Mawan

MIRI: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom said his party must live up to its name.

Speaking at SPDP Telang Usan charity dinner on Saturday night, he said it was on that principle that he accepted divergent views.

“But if the party is progressive and democratic, then its members must be equally so, meaning at the end of every divergent view there must be consolidation once a decision is reached.
“Divergent views and differences are acceptable in the party but consolidation and party’s interest are top priority,” he said to diners who included his wife Datin Sri, deputy president and Assistant Minister of Agriculture Datuk Peter Nyarok, secretary-general Nelson Balang Rining, Meluan assemblyman Wong Judat, Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Lambir assemblyman Aidan Wing, Pujut assemblyman Andy Chia Chu Fatt, Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai and organising chairperson Datin Winnie Jolly.

“It is normal to express divergent views on an issue, and I have not responded to any personal attacks as I can take all those as a leader of a progressive and democratic party,” Mawan said.
At a press conference earlier, Mawan called on the dissenting group in the party to help the party prepare for the next state election, saying: “Let bygones be bygones, let’s forgive and forget.”

He said it was now time for consolidation and the group of five — comprising senior vice-president Datuk Peter Nansien Ngusie, vice- presidents Sylvester Entri Muran, Rosie Yunus and Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, and information chief Paulus Palu Gumbang — should not allow internal problems to be exploited by the opposition.

Mawan said even though SPDP was getting stronger, its graph could begin to slide if party members allowed too much leeway for opposition to work on.
“It is for this reason that SPDP does not subscribe to subservience to those creating dissent or creating trouble.

“SPDP believes in solidarity and consolidation in order to move forward in living up to the challenge of ‘1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now’ as espoused by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

SPDP senior vice-president Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan, who is Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industries, echoed this view, saying SPDP was essentially 1Malaysia in membership composition and practice.



Borneo Post March 29, 2010, Monday