By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, June 29: Five locally-based political groups have agreed to come together as one to face the upcoming state election.
The alliance comprises Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi), Sarawak Workers’ Party (SWP), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS) Baru, Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) and Sarawak Independence Alliance (SIA).
PBDS Baru president Bobby William said he and the leaders of Aspirasi, SWP, S4S and SIA have unanimously come to an agreement to form Gabungan Anak Sarawak (Gasak).
Bobby who is Gasak’s pro tem president said the groups have decided to cooperate with each other in facing the 12th state election (PRN12).
“We have agreed to form Gasak to avoid multi-cornered fights in the upcoming state election.
“There are Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Malaya-based parties like Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (Sedar) and Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK).
“Therefore, we have agreed to form Gasak to avoid fighting with each other and to face the upcoming state election as a united front,” he told reporters during a press conference today.
Bobby said the group will contest in all the 82 constituencies for the upcoming state election adding that he himself will contest for the Senadin seat in Miri.
He added the group has already applied with the Registrar of Societies Malaysia (RoS) to enable Gasak to be registered as a new political party to face PRN12.
Bobby revealed that currently only Aspirasi and SWP are recognised as political parties in Gasak.
He added S4S and SIA are non-governmental organisations (NGOs) while PBDS Baru is in the midst of working to reverse its deregistration status with RoS.
Bobby said in the event that Gasak was not able to be registered in time to face PRN12, the candidates who are chosen will contest either under Aspirasi or SWP.
Among those present at the press conference were Aspirasi president Lina Soo, SWP acting president Captain (Rtd) Engga Unchat, S4S spokesperson Alex Leong and SIA person-in-charge Fong Pau Teck. —DayakDaily
