By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Dec 3: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) will contest in all urban and semi-urban seats throughout Sarawak in the upcoming Sarawak Election without collaboration with any local or Malayan political parties.
PBK president Voon Lee Shan said the decision was made after taking into consideration current political situations where other political parties had insisted on contesting all the urban and semi-urban seats.
“We decided to go alone in urban and semi-urban seats after much encouragement from our party supporters. This decision is done after compromise could not be found with other political parties to work together in our quest for independence.
“We had tried to work out a formula with others who had the vision to fight for Sarawak independence but since no common ground been agreed or was found, PBK upon the insistence of party supporters to go alone, then, agreed that the party fights for Sarawak independence alone.
“We had been left with no urban and semi-urban seats to contest because the seats been taken up by other pro-independence parties before any common ground was agreed. We thought to leave them alone to fight for Sarawak independence but the supporters had insisted us not to back out because they see our quest of independence is practical, real and serious,” said Voon.
Voon reiterated that its supporters are fully aware of the party’s stand where it will try to force for a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) against Malaya if demands not met in the event PBK holds the power of the Sarawak government.
“The party considers UDI and not independence referendum (IR) as the most suitable option to set Sarawak free and independent,” said Voon.
Voon held that IR is democratic, but in a democracy, it is proven that IR may not help us achieve PBK’s desired goal. To PBK, Scotland in 2014 was an example where IR failed to give them the vote for independence from the United Kingdom.
“Meaning that, a popular choice may not necessarily give us the correct choice in a democracy,” stressed Voon.
“PBK will demand equal partnership, equal opportunities and equal status with Malaya if the party holds power. The party shall demand the return of all marine wealth, territories and territorial waters beside the return of oil and gas resources back.
In the event demands are not met within a time frame given, the party will proceed to declare independence as UDI is legal under international law.
“A vote for coming elections is therefore a vote for Sarawak independence,” said Voon. – Dayak Daily
