DAP stalwart reflects on Sarawak DAP’s failure to win more seats during PRN12

KUCHING, Jan 17: Democratic Action Party (DAP) strongman Lim Kit Siang expressed disappointment over Sarawak DAP’s failure to win more seats during the 12th Sarawak Election (PRN12) last month.

Lim, who is the Iskandar Puteri MP in a statement today said apart from Padungan and Pending, he was hoping that Sarawak DAP would win in Kota Sentosa, Bukit Assek, Pelawan, Tanjong Batu as well as in Pujut.

“I can understand the frustrations and disappointments of the people that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government did not do more in the 22 months in power before it was undemocratically toppled.

“But I disagree with those who suggested that DAP should break away from the PH government without trying to make it work.

“We must persevere in our struggle to make a better Malaysia and a better Sarawak, not for our own sake, but for the sake of our children and children’s children,” he said.

Lim pointed out that the PH coalition had also made great progress although it suffered a great setback.

He opined Malaysians have not fully realised the historic significance of the 14th General Election on May 9, 2018 when PH ended the political hegemony of United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

“The 14th General Election results produced a new political scenario seeking a new political equilibrium where the voices of the people matter in shaping the destiny of the nation resulting in the turmoil which saw four Prime Ministers in five years,” he said.

According to Lim, the lesson for Malaysians is to realise that a political struggle to make Sarawak and Malaysia world-class entities is a long and arduous one and requires perseverance and stamina for the long haul.

He emphasised Sarawakians together with like-minded Malaysians must be at the forefront to mobilise Malaysians to spearhead the reset of national policies in the next half-century to bring about institutional reforms so that Malaysia can be a world-class nation.

“There cannot be a new dawn for Sarawak if there is there no new dawn for Malaysia. “Malaysian First” policy for the whole country, and “Sarawak First” policy for Sarawak,” he said. — DayakDaily