By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 24: Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) will contest in the upcoming State election, Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) confirmed today.
In a statement, the coalition announced that Sarawak PKR formally conveyed its intention to participate in the State polls during a meeting held earlier today.
“Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Sarawak Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) have, on several occasions, made it clear that we will be contesting in the coming State election.
“But so far, this is the first official statement by Sarawak PKR confirming its participation in the upcoming State election,” the statement read.
The announcement comes amid calls from certain sectors within Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the ruling coalition, for PH to withdraw entirely from the State election.
GPS currently dominates the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN), holding 80 out of 82 seats.
The remaining two seats are held by Sarawak DAP representatives, Chong Chieng Jen (Padungan) and Violet Yong Wui Wui (Pending).
“In any democratic system, we need checks and balances. The current lop-sided 80-to-2 GPS stranglehold in Sarawak DUN will work to the detriment of the common people on the street, as the maxim goes, ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely.’
“With this formal announcement by PKR to contest in the coming Sarawak election, Sarawak PH will henceforth proceed with preparations for the campaign,” the coalition added.
The most recent Sarawak election was held on December 18, 2021. The next State election is due by July 4, 2026, as the Sarawak DUN’s term lasts five years from its first sitting. — DayakDaily
