It’s either us or PAS, Sarawak DAP tells PKR chapter

KUCHING, June 17 — Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen told his PKR allies today to choose between continuing working with it or PAS for the coming state election.

Chong’s ultimatum comes after his party’s top leadership pronounced their Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact dead yesterday.

“I urge PKR to cut its relationship with PAS so that we may be able to work together again to fight the state Barisan Nasional in the coming state polls.

“As long as Sarawak PKR is working hand-in-hand with Sarawak PAS, DAP cannot work with PKR anymore,” the Kota Sentosa state lawmaker told reporters here.

Hinting that the DAP may contest the state polls on its own, Chong stressed that it will be a ridiculous scenario for DAP to cut ties with PAS and yet working with Sarawak PKR.

On March 17 this year, Sarawak DAP cut ties with PAS and quit PR over Kelantan PAS state government’s insistence to implement Shariah criminal code.

The party also distanced itself from Sarawak PKR later.

In the 2011 state elections, the three parties, under a loose opposition coalition Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat (PR), avoided facing each other as they geared their attention towards unseating the State Barisan Nasional in all the 71 state seats.

But in the coming state elections, which must be called before June next year, the scenario may be different.

Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP, said PKR must come to terms with itself and accept the fact that PR is dead, not only in Sarawak but also nationally.

He said the Sarawak DAP welcomes a coalition with anyone, other than PAS, who subscribes to its Common Policy Framework to make Sarawak and Malaysia a better country.

On Monday, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian expressed hope for a good sense to prevail among three opposition parties since the state elections is looming.

He said that PKR did not want to face the two parties in the state elections, if it could be avoided.

Baru, who is also Ba’Kelalan state lawmaker, nevertheless, said PKR had directed all its branches, including those in DAP and PAS areas, to pick potential candidates and ready for the state polls.