Alleging DAP ‘side deal' with PSB, Sng says PKR ready to contest Bawang Assan
KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is ready to field a candidate in Bawang Assan if its Pakatan Harapan (PH) ally Democratic Action Party (DAP) chooses not to contest the seat in the next state election, said PKR Sarawak chairman Larry Sng.
Sng in a Facebook post yesterday said PKR would not honour any ‘side agreements' on seat allocation, after learning that a deal was purportedly being made with Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).
“If our allies choose not to contest, it is important that the matter be raised at the Sarawak PH state-level for other PH parties to contest in their absence.
“I am raising this matter because it has come to my attention that our allies have privately conceded five to six seats to Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), including the seat of Bawang Assan,” he said.
Sng added: “If this is true, Keadilan is ready to contest Bawang Assan if DAP abandons their commitment to the people in that area. This rule applies to all state seats in Sarawak.”
Bawang Assan is currently represented by PSB president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
Sng also said unless PSB is part of the coalition and abides by the rules of the coalition, the party shall not under any circumstances be accorded with the same level of cooperation as PKR's allies.
He said any issue of cooperating with PSB does not arise as it was his understanding that the party did not wish to be part of PH Sarawak.
Sng stressed that PKR stands by its PH allies, namely DAP and Amanah, and that the level of trust and cooperation exists based on mutual understanding and common principles that have been forged over the years.
He pointed out that these are the very principles that have defined the coalition, which gave confidence to the Malaysian people for PH to win in the last general election.
On the recent seat negotiations for the next state election, Sng said discussions have been smooth and they are close to reaching an agreement amongst all parties.
"The allocation of seats is based on the understanding that those parties that are given those seats, shall honor and contest in those areas.
“It will betray the trust of the coalition and our supporters, should individual parties decide not to contest to make way for other parties outside of PH,” he said.