The Sarawak National Party (Snap) today released the names of 11 more of its candidates for the upcoming state elections, and its president Edwin Dundang indicated that more names will be announced in due course.

The party had already named 16 candidates last week, making the total number so far to 27.

NONE Dundang ( right ) said the 27 seats to be contested by the party are Dayak majority areas.

“We want to identify ourselves as a Dayak-based multiracial party and that is why we are announcing the name of our candidates in Dayak areas first,” Dundang explained.

Snap secretary Stanley Jugol, who was present at the press conference, said the coming elections is a golden opportunity to reunite and regroup the Dayaks under Snap.

“The Dayaks are the most split politically as we can see them in many parties in Sarawak,” Jugol said, adding that it is Snap’s aim to bring them into a single political organisation.

     

Edmund-Stanley-Jugol Jugol ( left ) said Snap had informed the PKR leadership of Snap’s intention to contest in all Dayak areas.

“The PKR leadership now considering our stand,” he said, expressing hope that the PKR leadership would understand Snap’s views and intention.

“I have explained to PKR deputy president Azmin Ali at our meeting with them yesterday that if there were Dayak members from PKR who want to contest in seats eyed by Snap, we can consider allowing them to contest, but on Snap’s ticket,” he said.

     

“And let PKR contest in Malay/Melanau areas, but we still extend goodwill to them and that is why we do not put up candidates in Batang Ai and Ba’Kelalan.

     

“We know that PKR is going to field Nicholas Bawin in  Batang Ai and Baru Bian in Ba’Kelalan.

     

“We also know that Baru is a winnable candidate,” Jugol said.

‘A forum for the Dayaks to be reunited’

 

He said if PKR thought that Snap is a forum for the Dayaks to be reunited, then they should let Snap contest in all Dayak areas.

    

“If PKR does not agree with our intention, then it means they do not want the Dayaks to be reunited.

     

“There is nothing wrong with Snap’s desire and intention.

“If the DAP leads the Penang government, PKR the Selangor government and PAS, the  Kelantan government, what is wrong for Snap to lead the Sarawak government?” he asked.

     

He said this is what the Snap leaders have been telling the leaders of the opposition parties.

“If you ask the rural people about this, the majority of the marginalised poor want this arrangement and want the Dayaks to be strong again,” he said.

     

He said Snap could lead the Sarawak government because it is a Sarawak-based party, unlike PKR and the DAP.

     

Jugol said it is up to the component parties of Pakatan Rakyat to consider Snap’s proposal to lead the Sarawak government.

     

Meanwhile, Dundang said candidates named in the first batch, announced last week, are now on the ground, visiting their various constituencies.

     

NONE “The feedback received has been very positive and encouraging. People see the return of a rejuvenated and re-energised Snap as very welcome news and want us to be the crucial player to change the political landscape of the State.

     

“As a responsible party, we have to respond to the requests from the grassroots,” Dundang added.

     

He said the coming elections will be nothing less than a watershed in the political history of the state and for that reason, Snap wants to be the party that unites the multi-racial people of Sarawak.

 

NONE The candidates named today are practising lawyer Ateng Jeros (Tarat), businessman Anthony Nais (Tebedu), businessman Ivanhoe Anthony Belon (Bukit Begunan) ( top ), farmer Bakin Umpa (Meluan), self-employed Alexius Douglas (Ngemah) ( right ), self-employed Munan John Andrew (Tamin), farmer Adang Jirau (Kakus), businessman Douglas Alau (Pelagus), former SUPP state assemblyperson Toh Heng San ((Katibas), businesswoman Rosnah Mohamad (Jepak) and government pensioner Lawrence Cosmas Sundang (Batu Danau).