By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Dec 21: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak chief Larry Sng is stepping down following his decision to allow a Dayak to lead the party.
He said in a social media posting that he has done so for the best interest of PKR Sarawak as well as for the Dayak community which is under-represented in the top leadership.
“After much consideration, I have decided that it is in the best interest of Keadilan Sarawak to be led by a Dayak leader going into the Sarawak state elections,” said Sng who is also Julau MP.
His rational being that majority of Sarawakians are Dayaks, representing 43 per cent of the population with the Malay and Chinese standing at 24 per cent.
“Yet we find that the poorest and most undeveloped areas in our state are within rural Dayak constituencies.
“Dayaks are also under-represented in the top leadership roles in both government and opposition parties.
“Party presidents/chairmen from PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu), PDP (Progressive Democratic Party), SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples’ Party), PKR, Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and Parti Amanah Malaysia (Amanah) are either the Malays or Chinese, despite their parties being largely supported by the Dayaks,” said Sng.
He said by making the change of allowing a Dayak to take over the leadership of PKR Sarawak, it would anger well and lend the party more credibility in tis fight against economic inequalities in the private sector, inequalities in selecting and promotion in the public service and PKR Sarawak’s resolve in addressing native customary land issues.
“In State administration, I am confident that the party will find a good replacement. We should not take the past defection of our former MPs from Puncak Borneo (Willie Mongin), Saratok (Ali Biju), Lubok Antu (Jugah Muyang) and Selangau (Datuk Joseph Entulu) as a case against Dayak leadership in Keadilan Sarawak.
“It is sad to say that, had they remained with Keadilan Sarawak, Pakatan Harapan would still be in government today,” said Sng.
He however, believed that the sins of the few should not rest on the shoulders of the many, and he is confident that the people will vote PKR Sarawak back to represent them in those areas which it had lost.
“I will discuss this matter with my party president (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) in the coming days to discuss about this transition and the selection of my replacement,” said Sng. — DayakDaily
