KUCHING, May 11: Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) says it would be absurd for Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) parties to join PH, including Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
State PH however, will consider state BN leaders on an individual basis after the elected representatives from state BN are cleared by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chieng Jen said to accept state BN was like PH accepting United Malays National Organisation (Umno) at the national level and that was not an option for the Sarawak PH coalition.
“It is our Sarawak Pakatan Harapan’s stand that we will not accept any of the Sarawak BN parties joining us, which includes PBB.
“Accepting PBB into Pakatan is akin to Umno joining Pakatan at the national level,” Chong said in a statement today.
Chong who is also state Democratic Action Party (DAP) chief said state PH had fought too hard against “the corrupt regime” and admitting any of the state BN parties would be unthinkable.
“We have fought so hard against the corrupt regime. And now that we are seeing some light and chances of having the corrupt leaders in Sarawak BN being brought to book and being held accountable for the past corruption and misdeeds done to Sarawak.
“It will be absurd to allow these Sarawak BN parties to join PH and thereby whitewashing all the corruption that has been committed by them,” said Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa state assemblyman.
He said PH and state BN had different work ethics and PH could not disappoint its supporters who uphold the same ethic.
“Our party has fought so hard along the lines of integrity and our supporters have supported us through the difficult times in the low ebb in the history of our party’s struggles because they believe in our integrity.
“On that count, we cannot and will not accept the Sarawak Barisan Nasional, especially PBB, into the fold of Sarawak Pakatan Harapan.
“On the individual members of BN hopping over, they will be accepted subject to vetting by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” said Chong.
Chong was asked to comment on a recent report by a news portal that state BN was mulling joining PH.
There are in total 31 parliamentary seats in Sarawak. In the May 9 general election, PH won 10 seats; state BN, 19 while two seats were taken by independents. — DayakDaily
