KUCHING, Oct 20: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan has made a counterproposal, suggesting that instead of requesting the Opposition’s withdrawal, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) should be gentlemanly in stepping back from the Jepak by-election to ensure a meaningful opposition presence in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN).
Voon’s statement came in response to GPS chief whip Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof’s suggestion to let the GPS candidate claim the Jepak seat unopposed, which he has criticised as “a way to kill democracy”.
Voon pointed out that GPS currently dominates the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN), given their near-complete sweep in the 12th Sarawak Election.
“Given the current political scenario, technically, there is no genuine Opposition voice in the DUN.
“Moreover, DAP (Democratic Action Party) could not at the moment be considered the opposition voice in Sarawak because, at the Federal level, GPS is a partner of DAP (within the unity government). By this arrangement, DAP could not be an effective mouthpiece of the Opposition,” he said in a statement today.
Furthermore, with Parti Sarawak Besatu (PSB) intending to merge with the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a component party within GPS, he stressed that Sarawak’s Opposition voice is further weakened.
In the spirit of democracy, Voon suggested that GPS should take a step back from the Jepak contest rather than demanding the withdrawal of opposition candidates “so that there will be an Opposition voice in the DUN”.
He emphasised that PBK will be contesting in this Jepak by-election and urged Jepak voters to support its candidate, Stevenson Joseph Sumbang, a 42-year-old businessman from Sibu.
“Let PBK have the voice to speak about our rights to freedom and independence in the DUN.
“If Sarawak could be set free and independent from the Federation of Malaysia, it could be more prosperous and progressive than it is now. Freedom and independence will not see us beggars from time to time for development and funds from the Federal government,” he added.
Meanwhile, Fadillah, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, had yesterday suggested that GPS candidate, former Sarawak National Anti-Drug Agency director Iskandar Turkee, be allowed to retain the Jepak seat unopposed in the upcoming by-election set on Nov 4.
Fadillah expressed confidence in GPS’s ability to secure the Jepak seat even in the event of a contest, proposing that potential candidates save their money and energy for larger elections by refraining from contesting in the Jepak by-election. — DayakDaily
