KUCHING, Feb 10: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) is as much a Sarawak party as any Sarawak-based parties, but with the additional advantage of having strong national backing.
Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said while the party maintains its autonomy in all matters in Sarawak, it is able to influence national politics through the national platform of DAP Malaysia.
Sarawak DAP’s autonomy is evident, he said, through several practices including the selection of Sarawak DAP committee members and State election candidates by State branch itself and not the national Central Executive Committee.
“In 2015, while DAP national was still in Pakatan Rakyat, DAP Sarawak made the decision to quit the Pakatan Rakyat.
“In the 2018 General Elections, while the national DAP decided to use the PH (Pakistan Harapan) logo to contest, DAP Sarawak maintained that we should use the ‘rocket’ symbol to contest,” he said in a statement today.
Chong, who is also the Padungan assemblyman, said Sarawak DAP being part of a national party is its edge for bringing local Sarawak issues into the limelight and to their rightful places.
Without national backing and a national platform, it can never influence national politics, he asserted.
“Therefore, the fact that DAP is a national party and that DAP Sarawak is part of this organisation is an added advantage to DAP Sarawak and not a liability.
“As part of this national party, we have a louder voice nationally and will be able to achieve more and fight for more rights for the interest of Sarawak than we standing alone,” said Chong. — DayakDaily
