Parti Rakyat Sarawak's (PRS) James Masing predicted that with more and more members jumping ship, the Sarawak Workers Party's (SWP) challenge to his own will collapse even before the general election.

"If it is true that many are resigning, then SWP is collapsing even before the coming general election.

NONE"Probably, the Dayaks are realising what Larry Sng, SWP president is up to," said Masing (left), who is also Land Development Minister.

He was commenting on reports that over 1,000 members from Rumah Jawang, Bukit Seri, Julau have announced their resignation from the party, citing the loss of confidence in the party leadership.

About 400 SWP members from Rumah Philip Belawing, Nanga Sengaih, Entabai, Julau turned their backs on the party last week.

Last month, two Supreme council members - Andy Lawrence and Tony Muari - left the party driven away by differences with Sng on financial matters.

Lack of trust push factor

More party leaders are expected to follow suit in the next week or so.

In a statement, former information chief of Meluan Division Felix Jalin Anak Edwin Chang said that they had quit as they had lost trust in the party leadership as it is being managed by Sng's family which is trying to manipulate the Ibans.

NONE"We have come to realise what SWP's struggle is all about and we realise that the leaders think that they can manipulate the Dayaks because they believe they have the means.

"But now we know their real intention," he said.

The resignation of the members ,especially from Meluan, is certain to affect Wong Judat's (right) challenge against Joseph Salang in the Julau constituency.

Judat, who is the Meluan State assemblyperson quit the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party last year in order to go against Salang who he accused of being an outsider.

Words paint illusion

He had claimed that he had the support of around 10,000 members from Meluan and Pakan seats that form the Julau parliamentary constituency.

But Felix Jalin said that the claim was only good on paper, pointing out that in reality, SWP had very little support in Julau.

SWP formed in April last year vowed not only to defeat PRS in Julau, Kanowit, Selangau, Kanowit, Hulu Rajang, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman, but was also going to replace PRS as the Dayak-based party.

So far it has announced Sng as the candidate for Lubok Antu, Judat in Julau and George Lagong in Hulu Rajang. Sng's father Chee Hua is expected to vie for the Selangau seat.

DUKAU PAPAU is a pseudonym. The writer is based in Sarawak.