Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) interim president Tiong King Sing has declared that there will be “an open war” if Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) is admitted into the state BN.

“There will be open war if Teras contests any of the seats currently allocated to the BN component parties in the next state election,” Tiong (right) said in a statement issued last night.

The MP for Bintulu added: “How can there be unity if three component parties are to lose their traditional BN state seat allocations to Teras if it is admitted into the coalition? Enemies at the gate will celebrate when you bicker and quarrel.”

Tiong said this in response to a statement made by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy information chief Peter Minos, who slammed Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and SPDP for opposing the admission of Teras into the BN.

Minos said those who opposed the admission of Teras should take BN unity into consideration and rethink their stand.

'Opponents to Teras were in opposition before'

He added: “Some of those who now block the new political vehicle entering BN seem to forget they were parties in the opposition before, and they fought BN bitterly.

“BN leaders eventually welcomed these once anti-BN parties so as to unite the people under BN. Imagine if BN had closed the door and refused to yield to calls for unity? Imagine if BN leaders were guided by vengeance and past bitterness?

“It is high time for BN members to give BN unity a serious thought.”

Minos then questioned why the opponents to Teras could not see BN unity as the big picture and to let the Sarawak BN chairperson Adenan Satem’s initiative to get Teras into the BN to work.

Criticising Minos for his remark, Tiong said BN unity would be destroyed if members of component parties could just resign and group together to form another party that is then accepted back into the collation.

Social Development Minister and former SPDP president William Mawan (right) joined the newly-formed Teras last Thursday, together with expelled SPDP assemblypersons Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Sylvester Entri (Marudi), Paulus Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Rosy Yunus (Bekenu).

Four SUPP assemblypersons also quit the party and joined Teras. They are Sibu branch chairperson Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan assemblyperson), Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Ranum Mina (Opar) and Johnichal Rayong (Engkilili).

Sarawak Workers Party deputy president George Lagong, who is  Pelagus assemblyperson, also left his party and joined Teras.