PBB welcomes Sarawak DAP’s initiative for better communication

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Dato Idris Buang says he welcomes the desire of Sarawak DAP to establish better communication between the federal and Sarawak administrations by strategically highlighting the cooperation between PBB and the federal DAP, as stated by Sarawak DAP Arang Road branch chairman Soo Tien Ren.

However, he said knowing fully well that PBB is part of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) family, Soo and Sarawak DAP have to also be as good to the other three component parties, namely Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

“They must acknowledge and honour treat PBB with the whole of GPS in mind in whatever functions, projects  or activities they want to do together with PBB,” Idris, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly,   said when reacting to Soo’s statement yesterday.

“Therefore, how DAP wishes to go about doing that is heavily dependent on their disposition and conduct on the ground, and it is important to respect GPS interests as a whole, especially in the areas where GPS now have the incumbency.

“All of it comes down to DAP’s sincerity and their honesty to collaborate with GPS for the sake of political stability, etc,” Idris, who is also the Muara Tuang assemblyman, said.

At the opening of the DAP Arang Road branch yesterday, Soo said he would like to propose a strategic direction and three concrete steps to the Sarawak DAP State Committee as a political strategy.

He had said that the Sarawak DAP needed to lead the national DAP by making Sarawak the focal point of creating a new Malaysia.

He suggested that the first step was that in the upcoming 13th Sarawak state election, the goal should be to practically and fully challenge SUPP in urban and semi-urban areas of Sarawak, with the political objective of replacing SUPP’s seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly and strengthening the party.

“ By gaining seats in urban and semi-urban areas, Sarawak DAP can strengthen its voice in Sarawak and work towards fostering cooperation between PBB and the federal DAP, thus facilitating better communication between the Sarawak and federal governments.

“This will also contribute to achieving Sarawak’s current strategy of opening up to the world,” Soo said.

He added once Sarawak’s connection with the federal government was strengthened, the party could push for the East Malaysian political leaders to become candidates for the next Malaysian prime minister.

However, he said the East Malaysia had to look for partners in Peninsular Malaysia to achieve the objective.

Soo said the upcoming Sarawak state election would be a critical milestone, adding that it would be a pivotal moment for Sarawakians to decide whether to open up to the world or continue to close themselves off.

“I believe Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s attitude is already clear, but the public, especially the urban population, needs to express their stance clearly.

“It is up to them to choose between the progressive DAP and the isolationist SUPP that promotes localism,” Soo said.