Sarawak DAP which had cut ties with Sarawak PAS last week, now called on Sarawak PKR to do the same so that the two parties could work together for the betterment of the state.

 

Sarawak DAP Chief Chong Chieng Jen further added in a statement today that the Kelantan hudud law episode and subsequent events clearly showed the political ideals and agenda of PAS did not fit into Sarawak society.

 

“In fact, few months before we, Sarawak DAP, decided to quit from Pakatan Rakyat Sarawak, I had requested Sarawak PAS to state that hudud law is not suitable for this state and that it would not pursue its implementation here.

 

“Sad to say, my request was turned down by PAS, indicating clearly that the implementation of hudud law is also on the political agenda of Sarawak PAS,” said Chong, who is the MP for Bandar Kuching and the State Assemblyperson for Kota Sentosa.

 

 He said that DAP knew that the implementation of hudud law would do no good to the state and there was no reason to continue cooperating with PAS.

 

The issue, he said, might be more complicated in West Malaysia where PAS, especially the progressive faction of PAS, had an important role to play to counter the dominance of Umno in the rural areas. 

“This is not the case in Sarawak where there is no Umno,” he explained.

 

“My Question to Sarawak PKR is: Knowing the true agenda of PAS, is it going to help PAS win seats in the coming state elections?

 

“If the answer is ‘yes’, then PKR will be doing a disservice to Sarawak by contributing to the growth of PAS here, thereby helping indirectly the hudud agenda in Sarawak. 

 

“If the answer is ‘no’ then there is no point to put up a pretence of a coalition when one does not help the other,” said Chong.

 

He then urged Sarawak PKR Chief Baru Bian ( right ) not to be so adamant about clinging on to Sarawak Pakatan which was broken the minute PAS shown its true colours in pursuing the hudud agenda.

 

“I believe, more can be achieved with PKR Sarawak cooperating with DAP Sarawak rather than with PAS Sarawak,” he said.

 

In the last election, DAP and PKR combined won 15 State seats – 12 won by DAP and three by PKR, while PAS returned empty-handed.

 

Meanwhile, Baru is not available for comment as he is away in his constituency of Ba’Kelalan. He is expected to return to Kuching tonight.