SIBU, April 11: Sibu MP and Sarawak DAP deputy chairman Oscar Ling has urged Bawang Asan assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh to understand clearly that the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), which he recently joined, is also a national party.
“The PDP had already announced its intention to become a national party in 2017 and changed its name from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party to Progressive Democratic Party,” he stated today.
Ling made these remarks in response to Wong’s criticism that Sarawak DAP should adopt a local party approach to better address the current situation.
Ling expressed surprise that Wong seemed unaware of the nature of PDP, considering his previous stance in Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), where he advocated for local discourse and rejected national parties.
“Today, he has joined a national party, which not only seems contradictory but also contradicts the discourse he advocated in the past,” Ling stressed.
On April 6, it was confirmed that PSB had dissolved and its members would be accepted en bloc into PDP, with Wong being made senior vice president.
He also raised concerns about Wong and a group of MPs defecting from the Opposition halfway through, questioning whether this move violated the voters’ original wishes and if it might be subject to anti-defection laws.
Moreover, Ling highlighted that by joining a national political party, Wong is essentially aligning himself with DAP.
“It’s evident that local political parties have limited influence on national politics. Every party aims to expand its influence, win more seats, and even govern independently,” he remarked. — DayakDaily
