MIRI – Sarawak PKR wants to have a say on which party should contest in Dayak-majority constituencies, even as DAP launched an effort to form a united opposition alliance for the vast state.
State PKR information chief Abun Sui said the party has roots in many constituencies where Iban, Kayan, Kenyah and other Orang Ulu communities are the majority.
He said this to The Vibes today in response to news that the first round of talks on forming a Sarawak opposition alliance will start tomorrow between DAP and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).
Sui said while it is good that DAP and PSB will begin discussions, PKR will watch from the outside and not be involved in the negotiations for now.
“DAP and PSB are starting negotiations on the Chinese-majority seats, I believe,” he said. “Their main focus is on the urban constituencies where they have stronger roots.
“In light of this, any opposition alliance in Sarawak must include Dayak-based parties if this alliance is to make any real impact in the public elections,” he said, stressing that the state PKR has strong Dayak-grassroots links.
He added that PKR will monitor discussions between DAP and PSB before seeing how the situation progresses.
Sarawak DAP deputy chairman Alice Lau disclosed yesterday that the party will be initiating the first round of talks with PSB.
As the effort progresses, they plan to bring in other opposition parties into the front, said the Lanang MP.
“We need to get this united alliance in place soon,” she said after a DAP gathering in Sibu town.
“It looks like the 15th general election may be called very soon.”
Lau will lead the DAP delegation for the talks while PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh will be representing PSB.
The venue and time for their discussion is still being arranged.
The efforts towards a united opposition front in Sarawak took a more urgent note after the opposition parties lost badly in last December’s state polls when they faced each other in multi-cornered fights against the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
However, there are some in the opposition who do not seem to want to cooperate with any united alliance.
Dayak-based outfit Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) insists that it will contest in Dayak-majority seats in the upcoming 15th general election.
Whether or not DAP forges an opposition alliance with the others, PBDS has its traditional seats where it will field candidates, Sawing Kedit, a PBDS vice-president said recently.
“It is a good idea for Sarawak DAP to want to forge an opposition alliance,” he said.
Last month, state PKR vice-chairman Roland Engan said even though the party understands that a united front against GPS is critical, they needed to put their own house in order first.
Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chien Jen had said early last week that the party is in favour of seeing an umbrella alliance of opposition parties in the state.
Sarawak has 82 state seats, with GPS presently holding 76, DAP two and PSB six.
Sarawak also has 31 parliamentary constituencies, with GPS in control of 19, the opposition holding 11 seats and one seat held by an independent.
The independent, Sri Aman MP Masir Kujat, quit Bersatu last month to declare support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. – The Vibes, April 25, 2022
