DAP and Sarawak National Party (Snap) representatives concluded their first rounds of talks last week on a possible merger.

NONE Sarawak DAP chief Wong Ho Leng said during the meeting, both parties discussed avenues for cooperation and “mechanics of the merger”.

“It looks very positive,” said Wong, who declined to give further details because the meeting was confidential.

However, the DAP central executive committee (CEC) has been briefed on the details last night. In turn, the CEC ordered the Sarawakian party leadership to explore the matter further.

Wong conceded that there were some Snap leaders who opposed the merger proposal, but others were for it.   

“The whole (meeting) was (on) the mechanics on how to about (with the merger)... It sounded positive,” said Wong during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

PKR uneasy with proposal

During the April 16 Sarawak polls, DAP made major gains in urban areas but faltered in rural areas, where ethnic Dayaks made up the majority.

Following the polls, DAP extended overtures for a merger with Dayak-based Snap. DAP is also embarking on a drive to expand its influence in Dayak-majority areas.  

Pakatan Rakyat component member PKR however have taken offence with the proposed merger, claiming that it was sabotaged by Snap during the Sarawak polls.

Seat allocations talks between Snap and PKR broke down which led to both parties clashing in 26 seats. PKR contested in a total of 49 seats during the polls.  

Wary of Snap, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian had cautioned that the merger proposal may impact already fragile ties between Sarawak's Pakatan component members.

‘We’re giving PKR a hand’

Commenting on this, Wong said that DAP’s overtures to Snap were not meant to snub PKR, but strengthen Pakatan as a whole.

 

“There is no reason (for PKR) to resist,” said Wong, adding that if the merger is successful, it would reduce the chances of a multi-cornered fight for seats.

Wong said DAP must expand its influence to non-Chinese majority areas in Sarawak and urged PKR to “resort to reason”.

“We are not happy to contest in just Chinse majority areas and as matter of facts since 1978 when DAP landed in Sarawak, we have contested in Dayak majority areas like Belaga and Benuk.

“It is about time to contest in Dayak majority areas again and after all it is PKR who said that their resources were overstretched , it wasn’t our fault by one bit.

“We are prepared to contest in Dayak majority areas, as well Malay and Melanau areas,” said Wong.

DAP won 12 out of 15 seats contested during the April 16 polls, while PKR only managed to win three out of 49 seats contested.

There is concern among some PKR leaders that a DAP-Snap merger to lead to the new entity contesting more seats in the future.  

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