Sng to base candidacy on sentiment on the ground

KUCHING: Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) president Larry Sng will decide whether or not to stand during the upcoming parliamentary election based on ‘response from the ground’.

“Depends on what is the response from the ground … if the response from the ground is promising, why not,” said the former assistant minister during a recent interview.

However, Sng declined to reveal which seat he has his eye on.

Sng also maintained that the party would contest in all seats currently held by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) – Lubok Antu, Sri Aman, Hulu Rajang, Kanowit, Julau and Selangau – adding that the party has identified candidates for all the constituencies.

“There are many people who want to be candidates but we have to assess the sentiment on the ground. Even if the election is to be called tomorrow, we would have our list today.

“We really have the list but we want to make sure that we will continue to assess these people. The best candidate at the time of election would be the candidate,” said the former Pelagus assemblyman.

When pressed further on whether SWP would have any women candidates, Sng said the endorsement of candidates would be decided by the party and not by individuals.

“We are a new party. We have a lot of new faces and some are previously from other parties.

“I can assure you that we are looking for credible candidates. People with integrity and those who are going to serve the people wholeheartedly.”

Besides completing its list of office bearers, Sng said SWP’s priority would be to set up election machinery in all the constituencies it will contest.

He said SWP has yet to decide the location of its headquarters, but the operations room to prepare for the coming parliamentary election would be based in Sibu.

It is essential for SWP to explain its stand to the people as well as the rationale behind the new party, he said.

“I think the people on the ground are quite supportive of SWP and we have been received well when we tell them we are BN-friendly. PRS doesn’t have much support from the ground.

“PRS has not done what they are supposed to do and they are many credible people who should be serving the areas better and unfortunately, it is all because of bad politics. That’s why SWP is standing so that the people have the right to choose who can best represent them,” he said.
 

Sng said he left it to the people to decide whether SWP could replace PRS, adding that it is still too premature for SWP to think about joining Barisan Nasional (BN). He confirmed discussing his decision to join SWP with Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

“But I can’t disclose our conversation. It is not for public consumption. He knows the reason why I’m resigning from the position (special youth affairs advisor).

“I hope that we can work together again in future. Whatever it is, the Chief Minister is still my mentor,” he said.