KUCHING, March 19 — The Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) today took back four of the so-called “Group of Five (G5)” formers leaders previously sacked for insubordination.

The four reinstated are Assistant Community Services Minister and Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian, Assistant Public Utilities Minister and Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri, Assistant Early Childhood Education and Family Development Minister and Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus, Miri Port Authority chairman and Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Gumbang.

A fifth, Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, failed to regain entry because he contested against and defeated Barisan Nasional’s candidate for parliamentary seat Anthony Nogeh during the last general election in 2013.

The reinstatement was widely believed to be driven by Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, and was not universally welcomed by party members

“We need to accept the reality of the situation, and now we can start working and focusing on the state election which is just two-and-half years away,” SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom said following the reinstatement and membership certificate signing ceremony at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya here today.

Asked on party posts for the reinstated members, Mawan said it would be deliberated later.

“When the time comes later on they can aspire to anything. All things will be considered. They are already ministers and assemblymen, what is more than that?

“Like me, you take away my presidential post in the party, just let me be a minister, I would. What else do you want?” he said.

Adenan, who witnessed the ceremony, said the reconciliation and reinstatement of former members into the party showed that Sarawakians were very compromising and friendly in nature and do not hold grudges for long.

“All’s well that ends well. They have come to an amicable settlement. This is good for SPDP and other component parties in state BN.

“For the sake of the country’s unity and harmony, we are prepared to make tough sacrifices,” he said.

Entri was sacked from the party in November 2011, and the rest in January 2012 for alleged insubordination.