“I want to lessen my workload and focus on Saratok especially since I may be roped into the Federal Cabinet. It’s the Prime Minister’s prerogative whether I join the Federal Cabinet. I am willing to accept any portfolio.”
Mawan admitted that he had been grooming his son Jakson, popularly known as Igat, as the candidate for Pakan.
“I have groomed many leaders in Pakan.”
Jakson is Teras Pakan divisional chief.
Mawan hastened to add however that it’s Adenan’s prerogative, as Barisan Nasional Sarawak (BN) Chairman, to nominate the coalition’s candidate for Pakan. “It’s entirely up to Adenan to nominate me or drop me in Pakan.”
“I don’t want to pre-empt anything. It’s up to Adenan to arrange whether I give up Pakan and focus on Saratok.”
He conceded that there has been delay in Adenan announcing the candidate for Pakan.
“We have to be thorough, to be reflective of the real situation on the ground, and not be manipulated by certain parties. It has to be like that.”
“Anyway, the candidate is going to be announced.”
Mawan was speaking with the media on the sidelines of distributing grants to NGOs at his Social Development Ministry on Thursday.
Earlier, Adenan had been quoted by the media as saying the BN direct candidates must be party less and if not in the ruling coalition resign from their parties before being nominated as a BN direct candidate. After the polls, added Adenan, the candidate can choose which BN component party to join.
Adenan’s statement appeared to close the door to Teras, a breakaway from the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), and the United People’s Party (UPP), a breakaway from the Sarawak United People’s Party (Supp), to joining the ruling coalition. Besides SPDP and Supp, two other component parties in BN Sarawak are the Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
Adenan, touching on Pakan during a visit to the constituency on Monday, had disclosed that he needed to discuss with SPDP President Tiong King Sing and party Secretary-General Anthony Nogeh Gumbek on the candidate.
Mawan retained the Pakan seat under SPDP in 2011 by 1,197 votes. He beat Sarawak National Party (Snap) candidate Jamal Abdullah @ Tedong Gunda who polled 2,741 votes.
He left SPDP in 2014 with four other Assemblymen , Teras Deputy President Peter Nansian Ngusie (Tasik Biru), Secretary-General Sylvester Entri Muran (Marudi), Treasurer-General Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Senior Vice-President Rosey Yunus (Bekenu).
Adenan confirmed on Wednesday in Miri that Rosey Yunus would contest Bekenu as a direct BN candidate.