KUCHING, May 15 — Fed-up with the infighting, several Sarawak lawmakers quit their Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties today, only to unite under a new banner that effectively makes it the second-biggest party in the Borneo state.

Sarawak Progressive Democratic President (SPDP) president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom led a band of 10 other elected representatives from two other BN components, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Workers Party (SWP), to form Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

Popularly known as Mawan, the Sarawak state minister said the 11 left in protest of the squabbles plaguing their respective parties but insisted they were still loyal to the BN coalition.

“We are taking a risk. We are not even sure if the state BN will take us in but I assure our supporters that we are now joined together in a bigger entity to better serve the people,” the Pakan assemblyman told reporters at the State Legislative Assembly building here.

Mawan, who is also Saratok MP, was surrounded by the 10 elected representatives at the news conference.

They are from SPDP: Assistant Public Utilities Minister Datuk Sylvester Entri who is also Marudi assemblyman; Community Service Minister Datuk Peter Nansian who is also Tasik Biru assemblyman; Assistant Education and Family Development Minister Rosey Yunus who is also Bekenu assemblywoman; Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Ngumbang; and Baram MP Anyi Ngau.

From SUPP, they are state Finance Minister Datuk Sri Wong Soon Koh, who is also Bawang Assan assemblyman; Assistant Public Health Minister Dr Jerip Susil, who is also Bengoh assemblyman; Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina; and Engkilili assemblyman Johnica Rayong.

Pelagus assemblyman George Lagong who is from the Sarawak Workers’Party (SWP) is the sole opposition representative in Teras.

Today’s announcement has sent shockwaves throughout the state.

Dr Jeniri Amir, a political scientist at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said the move by Mawan and other elected reps were unprecedented, but viewed it as a temporary remedy to resolve the political tussles within SPDP and SUPP.

He warned that Teras’ bid to enter the BN could rock the ruling coalition and be detrimental for its survival in the long term.

“I don’t think this is good for the Sarawak political scene. It is a bad medicine although it is the most practical way to end the parties’ internal conflicts,” Jeniri told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.

With the departure of the 11, SPDP is left with only one elected representative, Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing while SUPP still has three lawmakers in its ranks. They are: Senadin assemblyman Datuk Lee Kim Shin; Simanggang assemblyman Datuk Francis Harden and Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, whose Parti Pesaka Bersatu controls 35 seats in the 71-member state legislative assembly, declined comment when approached.

“Let everybody else have their say first, I will have the last say,” he told reporters.