Sarawak DAP hits ‘dead end’ in election seat talks
Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen (left) said PSB president Wong Soon Koh had initially agreed that PSB candidates would use the DAP logo for the general election.
PETALING JAYA: Sarawak DAP’s election seat negotiations with Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) have reached a dead end after PSB president Wong Soon Koh said Sarawak DAP must “sacrifice” one parliamentary seat.
Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said Wong had initially agreed for PSB candidates to contest under the DAP symbol at the next general election.
“However, he then placed a condition for DAP to hand over one of our parliamentary seats to PSB … You can ask Soon Koh to confirm this,” he said, according to Astro Awani.
Chong said that if PSB wanted to cooperate with DAP ahead of the parliamentary elections, the party needs to be sincere and not impose such conditions.
“I think this is an unreasonable request. This means we have to drop an existing MP to make way for PSB. We are seemingly being held ransom,” he was quoted as saying.
Sarawak DAP entered into discussions about cooperation with other opposition parties in Sarawak in April.
Chong has said that Sarawak DAP has autonomy to cooperate with any political party in the state while still remaining part of Pakatan Harapan.
He said the Sarawak state elections in December had shown a need for the main opposition parties to work together to topple the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
DAP won in only two of 24 seats contested while PKR lost in all its 28 contests. PSB, contesting the state polls for the first time, won four seats; Batu Lintang, Ba’kelalan, Bawang Assan and Engkilili.
PETALING JAYA: Sarawak DAP’s election seat negotiations with Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) have reached a dead end after PSB president Wong Soon Koh said Sarawak DAP must “sacrifice” one parliamentary seat.
Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said Wong had initially agreed for PSB candidates to contest under the DAP symbol at the next general election.
“However, he then placed a condition for DAP to hand over one of our parliamentary seats to PSB … You can ask Soon Koh to confirm this,” he said, according to Astro Awani.
Chong said that if PSB wanted to cooperate with DAP ahead of the parliamentary elections, the party needs to be sincere and not impose such conditions.
“I think this is an unreasonable request. This means we have to drop an existing MP to make way for PSB. We are seemingly being held ransom,” he was quoted as saying.
Sarawak DAP entered into discussions about cooperation with other opposition parties in Sarawak in April.
Chong has said that Sarawak DAP has autonomy to cooperate with any political party in the state while still remaining part of Pakatan Harapan.
He said the Sarawak state elections in December had shown a need for the main opposition parties to work together to topple the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
DAP won in only two of 24 seats contested while PKR lost in all its 28 contests. PSB, contesting the state polls for the first time, won four seats; Batu Lintang, Ba’kelalan, Bawang Assan and Engkilili.
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