Sarawak DAP to discuss working with non-Harapan opposition parties for GE15

 

Sarawak DAP will meet in Sibu on Tuesday to discuss the possibility and mode of working together with other opposition parties in Sarawak for the 15th general election, said its chairperson, Chong Chieng Jen.

While remaining a part of Pakatan Harapan, Chong said Sarawak DAP has full autonomy to form alliances with any political party in the state.

"From the results of the 2021 Sarawak election, it is obvious that there is a need for the major opposition parties in Sarawak to work together to take on GPS," said the Padungan assemblyperson in a statement today.

Harapan suffered a major setback in Sarawak after DAP only won two of the 24 seats it contested while PKR was wiped out in all 28 seats. Amanah also contested eight seats and failed to win a single one.

The final result saw GPS forming the state government with a supermajority after winning 76 out of 82 seats, while the opposition bench comprised DAP (two seats) and PSB (four seats).

Chong, who is Stampin MP and a former deputy minister during Harapan's stint in Putrajaya, said that regionalism sentiment was strong in the 2021 Sarawak election.

"However, the results in the Sarawak election also show that purely fighting on regionalism politics will not get a party anywhere.

"In the last Sarawak Elections, PSB contested 70 seats but won 4 while DAP contested 26 seats, winning two.

"The candidates of all other so-called local opposition parties lost, with most of them losing their election deposits," he said.

Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen

Chong noted that despite its major victory, GPS continued to join forces with national parties to have influence at the federal level.

He said that while regionalism and local party issues need to be addressed when strategising for general elections, the importance of being a national party with a national platform must not be overlooked.

"This is especially so when we are talking about national politics in general elections.

"With all the committee members of DAP Sarawak being Sarawakians and having autonomy over matters in Sarawak, DAP Sarawak is as local as any local party, but with the advantage of having a national platform and the backing of a whole solid national party.

"It is only through this national platform that we can change and shape national policies and the future of our country," he said. - Mkini