Mawan (centre) flanked by Teras deputy president Datuk Peter Nansian (left) and Teras secretary-general Sylvester Entri Muran during the press conference at their headquarters yesterday. Both Nansian and Entri are state assistant ministers.
KUCHING: Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom remains optimistic that the party at the end of the day will be accepted into Barisan Nasional (BN) as they have never parted ways with the ruling coalition.
Speaking to the press after the party’s inaugural Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting at their headquarters here yesterday, Mawan further stressed that the presence of their members in the State Cabinet reflects the party’s position in the BN government.
Responding to a report by a national news agency quoting Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem as saying that it was unlikely that Teras and United People’s Party (UPP) would be admitted to the state BN fold, Mawan said Teras would not interpret the statement and would leave it to Adenan to elaborate.
“We have been conducting and aligning all our activities in the name of the BN. Thus, we are fully entrenched as a BN entity. It is where we belong and where we have been over the years,” stressed Mawan, who is also Minister of Social Development.
He expressed the party’s confidence in Adenan, adding that the relationship between Teras and him (Adenan) would only get better.
“It will never be the opposite,” enthused the Pakan assemblyman and Saratok MP.
On another note, Mawan believes that Teras will be able to rope in 20,000 to 30,000 members by next year when all their 71 party divisions are approved by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
Currently, Teras has 18 registered divisions and around 15,629 members, and the number is steadily increasing by the day. The numbers, he added, might have been doubled if not for the technicality constraints due to the party’s new constitution.
“Teras is a very acceptable party to the people, as we are people oriented, compassionate and inclusive. Teras also fits into the 1Malaysia concept and believes in moderation,” he elaborated.
He also said Teras stood by the Prime Minister’s stand that extremism cannot be the order of the day in the country.
“We reject and will continue to commit ourselves to defend moderation as we are living in a multiracial and multi-religious society,” he added.
Meanwhile, roadshows will be organised by Teras in Pakan, Meluan, Ba Kelalan and Batu Danau in Jan next year to carry on the momentum after their successful events in Marudi, Tasik Biru and Bekenu recently.
He also said the roadshows would be a noisy affair for the party which over the past weeks had decided to remain rather quiet as they opted to shift their focus on the community.
“We do not talk so much, but we are very much action oriented on the ground. And that is where the demand is far greater than just talking,” he added.
Touching on the proposed 11 new seats for the impending state election, Mawan said the party was prepared to be tasked in any constituency to help the BN government win the election besides focusing on their current eight seats.
“We definitely will be requesting for some of the new seats for Teras. But first we must consolidate ourselves and be more serious,” he stressed.