Mawan had previously gone through three parties: Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) which later changed its name to Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).
The one-term MP is unlikely to be re-nominated to do battle for Barisan Nasional (BN) this time around if Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg sticks to his decision not to field existing PBB state assemblymen for parliamentary seats in the 14th general election (GE14), according to a senior party member who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“No, it’s very unlikely that he will be standing in Saratok,” the party insider said, referring to the seven-term Pakan assemblyman.
“The party chief (Abang Jo) recently announced that existing assemblymen will not get to contest a parliamentary seat.
“I doubt the chief minister is going to change his stand about this ‘single seat’ policy within PBB.”
The member also pointed to the understanding reached at the Jan 3 BN Supreme Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur, whereby any representative jumping to another party within the coalition will not bring along his or her seat.
This understanding among the ruling coalition partners has apparently put paid to Mawan’s hopes of being re-nominated as Saratok MP.
Mawan has been actively campaigning in Saratok, hoping to persuade the BN leadership to field him.
However, he has also repeatedly made it known that he “will accept any decision” by the BN leadership on his candidacy.
Mawan won Saratok by a narrow margin after being chosen to contest the seat by former chief minister Taib Mahmud at the eleventh hour as a direct BN candidate in the 13th general election.
He scraped through, garnering 11,600 votes against PKR challenger Ali Biju’s 9,519 to win by a majority of 2,081 votes.
The PBB insider also said fielding Mawan would make it appear as if the state BN lynchpin was a bully, which could affect ties among the coalition partners.
“The other state BN parties will not be happy with us and this is not good for political stability and cooperation in Sarawak,” he warned.
In the 11th Sarawak state election last year, PBB won all 40 of the 82 state seats contested.