SWP hit by ‘financial’ setbacks?
Sarawak Workers Party which trumpeted its plans to contest in six constituencies held by rival Parti Rakyat Sarawak may end the polls with a whimper.
Joseph Tawie, FMT
KUCHING: Has the five-month old Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) hit a financial snag? The party which seemed to have made a good start in the beginning in Selangau parliamentary constituency is now suffering from a serious setbacks.
Some 700 SWP members in the Kakus constituency have reportedly resigned from the party.
No reason has been given for their resignations, but it is believed it had something to do with ‘broken promises’ of financial rewards.
SWP’s de facto leader Sng Chee Hua who is tipped to contest in the constituency has been campaigning hard against Joseph Entulu, who is deputy Minister of Regional and Rural Development. Entulu is also deputy president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
A source close to the Sng said it is a ‘major blow’ for the SWP de facto leader. SWP is led by Sng’s son Larry (photo), who is former Pelagus assemblyman.
“The resignations of the members have surprised Sng. Even the service centre of SWP in Tatau has been dismantled by the owner of the shop allegedly for non-payment of rental.
“This is a major blow to Sng, who is trying to make a political comeback,” said the source who declined to be named.
Sng in his early 60s was a one-term member of parliament of Julau from 1995.
Besides Selangau, SWP has expressed its intention to contest against PRS in five other seats namely Julau, Kanowit, Ulu Rajang, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman.
The source said that three members of the party’s supreme council have threatened to resign if the promises made to them are not going to be fulfilled.
Losing interest
According to the source, SWP leaders who are potential candidates have been promised a monthly allowance of RM10,000.
As a result of this promise, two of them resigned their posts, one from a government-linked company and the other from a private university.
“For the past three months, all six potential candidates have been directed to go to the ground and to use their money first after which they would be reimbursed.
“Up to last week they have not been reimbursed and have not received the allowance of RM10,000 otherwise they would resign from the party,” said the source.
