KUCHING, August 18: Local pact Sarawak Baru has applied to the Registrar of Societies (ROS), and it hopes the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government would okay it.
It comprises four partners, namely State Reform Party (STAR), PBDS Baru (PBDSB), Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) and Party Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).
In a statement, its pro tem secretary-general, who is also PBDSB Sibu chairman Julius Enchana, noted that the application of the state’s ruling coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), was still pending approval by the ROS.
“Same goes for Sarawak Baru, too. The important question in every Sarawakian’s mind now is that since PH is the federal government, will PH allow ROS to approve the application of GPS but reject the application of Sarawak Baru?” he said.
Julius said individually, all component parties of Sarawak Baru had fought countless battles with the now-defunct Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN). But for the next state election, which must be held by 2021, they would charge into the battlefield as a united coalition to fight for the wellbeing of all Sarawakians.
He admitted that Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was right to remark that GPS members had a good track record, while those under Sarawak Baru had lost heavily in past elections, including losing their deposits,
“(But) we believe that to fight for a good cause is never easy. Hence, failure is just the mother to success. Past experiences or failures will only make us (Sarawak Baru) more alert and better prepared for what lies ahead.
“As the famous phrase goes `United we stand, divided we fall’,” said Julius.
He also acknowledged criticisms from PH Sarawak members on social media. Generally, they commented that Sarawak Baru was merely a coalition of Dayak and Chinese teams that add up to nothing. A few remarked that individually or as a coalition, Sarawak Baru is only a mosquito entity and are opportunity seekers.
“(They) even accused us as GPS or BN proxies to break votes in every election. We can’t control what they want to say, but we know very well our priorities and principles for the betterment of Sarawak and its people.
“We are the ones who have been highlighting on issues that are being neglected and also (PH’s) sweet promises that ended up with excuses,” he said.
Restoring Sarawak’s autonomous rights and Sarawak as a secular state would be what Sarawak Baru would be fighting for in the next state polls, he revealed. — DayakDaily
