PSB urges Sarawak DAP leader not to be too judgemental of 'frogs'

 

Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) today urged Sarawak DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen not to be too critical of "political frogs" because his father too had switched parties before.

In a statement today, PSB president Wong Soon Koh (above) said he would like to "gently remind" Chieng Jen that the latter's father Siew Chang left Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) to set up Sarawak DAP in 1978.

"We would like to gently remind Chieng Jen to refrain from speaking so highly of himself or DAP on rejecting 'frogs' and giving the notion that he is on high moral ground or being so judgemental about anyone and everyone who changes political parties.

"That said, we also do not deny that a few bad apples can spoil the whole basket. But then, why is Chieng Jen so adamant in tarring every leader or politician with the same brush?

"If he is so insistent, perhaps he should then denounce his own father who jumped from SUPP, a Sarawak-based party to join DAP, a Malaya-based party and was accused by SUPP of sabotaging the chief minister, the late Rahman Yakub," said Wong.

Wong said he does not wish to "open old wounds" and respects Siew Chang for leaving SUPP out of principle.

"It is indeed a matter of principle and PSB subscribes to the very same cause that senior Chong fought for on a different political platform without compromising our principles," said Wong.

Recently, Chieng Jen, in commenting on possible collaboration with PSB, had recently alluded that Sarawak DAP would not cooperate with "political frogs".

There are two incumbent state assemblypersons in PSB who switched allegiance from Pakatan Harapan last year. They are See Chee How (Batu Lintang) and Baru Bian (Ba'kelalan).

"As far as DAP is concerned, in our areas, we had a 'frog' who was an incumbent and we insisted that he should not be renominated. That is how we uphold our principle and party decision," Chieng Jen said.

Sarawak DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen

PSB is a relatively new party that was set up in 2014 after splintering from SUPP. Prior to the dissolution of the state legislative assembly on Nov 3, the party had six assemblypersons. It is expected to field a long list of veteran politicians this election.

Wong said Chieng Jen should appreciate that Baru and See held the same view as Siew Chang on the principle of Sarawakian rights and alluded that the duo left PKR to free themselves of control by their Kuala Lumpur-based former leaders.

He added that Baru, See, and their grassroots leaders and followers left their former party to join PSB with the common objective of replacing GPS to fight for a better future for all Sarawakians on a local-based political platform.

"That is the principle we hold true till today," said Wong. - Mkini