The Sarawak Nasional Party (Snap) today reaffirms its allegiance to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition but has formed a strategic link with the newly established Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM).

NONE Snap secretary-general Stanley Jugol ( far right )said he was confident that the Dayak-based party was able to cooperate with the Pakatan.

“Because our main goal is to unseat the BN (state) government,” said Jugol during a press conference today in Kuala Lumpur.

Jugol said the basis of its cooperation with Pakatan and MCLM was based on four agendas, namely: Restoration of East Malaysia’s agreement in the formation of Malaysia, restoring liberties, repealing draconian laws and reforming public institutions and finally reforming the economy.

The press conference was called following a long meeting between Snap, MCLM and Sabah-based United Borneo Front (UBF) last night.

However, neither Jugol nor MCLM president Haris Ibrahim revealed details of the intended “strategic cooperation”, stressing that they have formed an “alliance”, but not a “coalition”.

“Our co-operation is strategic in nature, I do not plan to disclose the strategies we have agreed on,” he said.

Haris did reveal that MCLM will help Snap vet candidates if it is asked to do so.

MCLM - driven by Haris and fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin - is on a mission to supply the Pakatan coalition with its brand of “credible candidates”.

They has thus far named four individuals, all unknowns. It is understood that the group is seeking a total of 30 possible candidates, but response from Pakatan partners have been cautious.

Will PKR's feathers be ruffled?

However, both Haris and Raja Petra were highly critical of PKR’s internal polls process and the party’s newly elected deputy president Azmin Ali.

It remains to be seen whether MCLM’s formal alliance with Snap would drive a wedge between the latter and PKR.

Jugol also announced that Snap intends to contest in all 28 Dayak-majority seats during the state polls which is expected to be held in the coming months.

He refused to speculate on what would happen if these seats were also sought after by other  Pakatan coalition parties.

“I cannot comment on three-corner fights because it has yet to happen,” he said.

It is understood that PKR better organised and resourced PKR is also eyeing Dayak and Iban majority seats.

Meanwhile, Haris announced that a consensus has yet to be reached between MCLM and UBF, which is headed by former PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan who left the party in a huff in early last month.

“We have not as yet been able to agree on come to a common position on all fundamentals. But I'm pleased to say that we shall continue to talk with a view to achieving some sort of consensus,” he said.