KUCHING, Feb 25: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen has described the quitting of Baru Bian, Ali Biju and Willie Monyin from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as “betrayal” to those voters them in.
He said their decision to quit Pakatan Harapan (PH) was a betrayal not only to its party but also the trust of voters who in the 14th General Election had voted the coalition in as the federal government.
In a statement today, Chong pointed out that their alignment with recently-sacked PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali Azmin’s faction to topple the democratically elected PH government has brought chaos to the country and paralysed the whole government.
“It is regrettable that the PKR trio have chosen to quit PKR and Pakatan Harapan and joined with Umno and PAS to try form a new government.
“With the exit of the trio from PKR Sarawak, we expect a re-alignment of the Sarawak PKR leadership,” he said.
Given the recent political development, the change in Sarawak PKR’s state leadership and exit of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) from PH, Chong said PH Sarawak will meet in the near future to decide on the next course of action.
“I believe that having gone through this turmoil in the recent days, Sarawak PH will be more united and resolute to face the coming state election,” he said.
Chong, who is also PH Sarawak chairman, gave assurance that come what may, PH Sarawak will always stay true to its original political struggle to bring reforms to Sarawak and Malaysia for betterment.
“The departure of a few leaders from the PH component parties will not deviate the whole PH Sarawak from its course,” he said.
As for DAP Sarawak, Chong was pleased and proud to say that all DAP Sarawak elected representatives, both Members of Parliament (MPs) and State Assembly members, remain steadfast with the party through thick and thin.
“The Sarawak DAP members as well as the members of Amanah and those remaining in PKR have also shown great strength and undivided support for the leadership in this difficult and uncertain times,” he added.
As many as 11 MPs from PKR including Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, Saratok MP Ali Biju and Puncak Borneo MP Willie Monyin announced their exit from PKR and PH yesterday (Feb 24) and were set to form an independent bloc in Parliament.
Others MPs who quit the party were Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang), Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota), Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar (Bandar Tun Razak), Datuk Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal), Datuk Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat), Datuk Seri Dr Santhara Kumar (Segamat) and Jonathan Yasin (Ranau). — DayakDaily
