Larry offers olive branch to former PKR members
MIRI: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak chief Larry Sng Wei Shien has called on former party members to return to the party which he said is growing stronger, with grassroots support intact and past leaders back in action.
In his Facebook post on Aug 19, he said the resignations within PKR Sarawak had ceased for some months and the party had been growing in strength, in contrast with former branch warlords who had a mountain to climb in trying to start all over again from the bottom in a new political organisation.
With a long queue of leaders before them, it would take them years before they could reach any position of real influence, if they can survive till then, Larry said, adding he had been told that some had regretted leaving PKR and were now stuck in a limbo.
“As MPN (state leadership council) chair, I am prepared to consider their return subject to the approval of the central leadership council (MPP),” he said.
But he said that their passport to rejoining under his leadership is to subscribe to the policies and principles that PKR has long stood for.
Larry, who is also Julau MP, disagreed with some political analysts that PKR is not a force to be reckoned with in the coming state election following the departure of former state chief and Selangau MP Baru Bian, Puncak Borneo MP
Willie Mongin and Saratok MP Ali Biju.
Instead, he said, the chances for PKR Sarawak to win in the coming state election is very promising as it is in a better position now and he is confident that the party would make inroads in the election.
He said PKR Sarawak had been engaging its branch leaders regularly and had been doing so online instead of physical meeting due to the travel restrictions over the last few months.
He also said PKR had been very busy restructuring and formulating policies for the party and several notable past leaders had rejoined the party under his leadership.
Analysts have cast doubt on the impact of PKR in the coming state election, pointing to the vacuum after Baru and his group left, and PKR Sarawak being led by a Chinese instead of a Dayak leader which makes it less acceptable to Dayak voters, saying the party would be facing an uphill task.
Baru, a seasoned native land rights champion and touted as PKR candidate as chief minister in the last state election, has now joined Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) as his new political platform, together with sidekick and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chew How who was sacked by the party in April this year.
Larry said there is no shortage of capable leaders as the party has welcomed back past leaders such as Harrison Ngau, Dominique Ng, Munan Laja, Paul Kadang and several others and registered over 1,000 new members in the span of four months.
He acknowledges that PKR may be the underdog but is ready to put up a good fight in the state election.
“Despite the departure of some MPs, the grassroots still remain intact. That is a good sign that the party is still strong,” he added.