KUCHING – Dismayed by DAP Sarawak’s abysmal performance in the December 18 state election, party supremo Lim Kit Siang has issued an ultimatum to fellow leaders and members – to get cracking for the 15th general election (GE15), which is likely to be held this year.
He called on them to ascertain why the party did not do well in the last Sarawak election.
“Sarawak did poorly in the state election held last month. We must find out why the party only won one new seat in Padungan and retained only one in Pending.
“I am disappointed with the results, as I expected seats such as Kota Sentosa, Bukit Assek, Pelawan, Tanjung Batu and Pujut – which were all DAP’s stronghold seats – to be won,” said Lim at the opening of DAP Sarawak’s Ordinary Convention 2022 here today.
“The party must get down to brass tacks to find out why it failed so badly in the state election, and recoup its strength and popularity immediately by focusing on preparing for the imminent GE15.”
Lim, who is Iskandar Puteri MP, said the new dawn Sarawak needs “has not arrived yet”.
“It is a work in progress that needs a lot of hard work and good planning.
“I quite disagree with some people who say that a new dawn has come to the state with the passing of the 2021 Constitution Amendment Bill by the Dewan Rakyat, four days before the state election last year.”
He pointed out that what happened in Parliament is only the first step to bring about such a change in Sarawak after half a century of darkness.
“More will have to be done before Sarawakians wake up to a new dawn in the state.
Firstly, there cannot be a new dawn for Sarawak if there is no new dawn for Malaysia,” he said.
It would probably take more than three decades to achieve this, and, even then, it could happen only when Malaysia puts in place a “Malaysian First” policy for the whole country and a “Sarawak First” policy for Sarawak, he said.
“DAP Sarawak, since its establishment in 1978, has been waging a long-term struggle on two fronts – firstly, to create a world-class Sarawak, and secondly, to create a world-class Malaysia.
We fought for years to get elected into the Sarawak assembly from 1978 to 1996. Our dream of creating a world-class Malaysia and a world-class Sarawak is still unfinished business,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sarawak DAP’s Chong Chieng Jen was re-elected to his post as chairman during the party’s triennial convention earlier.
The party’s new deputy president is Lanang MP Alice Lau, who succeeded David Wong Kee Woan.
Lau was previously the party’s publicity secretary.
Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol retained his position as the party’s vice-chairman. He will share this position with Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew.
Senator Alan Ling Sie Kiong retained his position as party secretary, assisted by Larry Asap.
Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii has been elected as the new publicity secretary.
Pending representative Violet Yong is still the organising secretary. She will be assisted by Tonny Ung.
Irene Mary Chang won the position of director of political education, taking over from Dr Ting Tiong Choon.
Julian Tan Kok Ping, Sim Kiat Leng, Yong Siew Wei, and Richard Lias are exco members. – The Vibes, January 16, 2022
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