Julau lawmaker Larry Sng, who quit as Sarawak PKR chief and declared support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, wants to defend his parliamentary seat.
However, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), which is part of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) alliance, which backs the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government, will not step aside.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Sng (above) said he and his group will not contest for state seats if the Sarawak election is called.
He is also undecided on whether to stand in Julau as an independent candidate or under another party logo in the next general election.
"I will cross that bridge when I get there. Right now, my top priority is fulfilling my promises to my constituents," he said.
The 41-year-old son of millionaire businessperson-politician Sng Chee Hua, first stood on a Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak ticket in the 2001 state election, replacing his father as the Pelagus representative.
He served two terms as BN's Pelagus assemblyperson, from 2001 to 2011, and was in 2004 appointed an assistant state minister under then chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.
He later represented PRS and Sarawak Workers Party before joining PKR after winning the Julau seat as an independent in the last general election.
Sng defeated a PRS candidate in a straight fight after PKR decided not to contest in Julau, which was a BN stronghold since the 1970s.
'We will not be tricked twice'
Meanwhile, PRS president James Masing vowed to reclaim the Julau seat.
"PRS has six parliamentary seats, we will contest all six seats," he said in a text message.
Masing also made it clear that PRS will not readmit Sng, who was with the party from 2004 until 2007.
"You fool me once, shame on you. You fool me twice, shame on me. PRS will not be tricked twice. PRS will not accept Sng and his gang," he added.
On the same note, Masing also hoped that Bersatu will honour its pledge not to take part in the state election or field candidates in Sarawak for the next general election.
This was in reference to the Saratok and Puncak Borneo parliamentary seats won by PKR's Ali Biju and William Mongin, who later defected to Bersatu.
GPS secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi also confirmed that PRS will contest the Julau seat.
"When we were brought in to form PN one year ago, as far as GPS is concerned, our president Abang Johari Openg made a stand that GPS will contest in all our seats," he told Malaysiakini.
Alexander also said GPS is open to cooperating with parties that will form the government after the next general election, including those from PN and BN.
"I believe the way forward is that a (ruling) coalition will be formed after the results of the general election is announced.
"We want to team up with parties that are not extreme and form a stable as well as a meaningful government.
"There is nothing wrong with working with Umno or other parties. Even DAP is harbouring the idea of working with other parties to replace Muhyiddin's administration," Alexander added.
Formerly known as Sarawak BN, GPS quit BN following the coalition's defeat in the 2018 general election and announced its support for Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration.
GPS then supported the PN government, which came into power following a political coup last year. - Mkini
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