SWP ending its BN-friendly stance

Larry Sng

KUCHING: Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) has given a clear indication that it is no more Barisan Nasional (BN)-friendly, ending months of uncertainty among its own members over its future direction.

Prior to the May 5 parliamentary election, SWP declared that it was BN-friendly but insisted that it contest in all six seats allocated to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), which is a BN component party. SWP, however, failed in its bid to win any seat let alone gaining the chance to replace PRS inside BN.

Yesterday, its president Larry Sng said the party is willing to work together with the state Democratic Action Party (DAP) and even expressed his respect for state opposition leader Chong Chieng Jen, who is also state DAP chairman.

“SWP and DAP are in consensus on the need to work together to maximise our strength in numbers. There is no need for opposition parties to frustrate one another by contesting in an already crowded political arena,” he told The Borneo Post.

“We should pool our resources and streamline our message so that we are not perceived as a loose pact but a serious alternative to the present government. DAP being the backbone of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Sarawak should take the lead to open discussion with all like-minded opposition parties,” he said.

“It is also timely that they are now expanding into rural seats. I am confident in Chong’s leadership and he has my support in furthering PR’s ambition in Sarawak,” he added when responding to a recent call by Chong for a SWP-DAP cooperation.

On Tuesday, Chong revealed that a few informal meetings had been held between them and SWP after the May 5 parliamentary election for a possible cooperation.

Any political party sharing the same interests and ideology to win over Putra Jaya would be most welcomed to cooperate with the PR coalition, he stressed.

He also claimed that SWP has the strength and influence in the central region of Sarawak which could benefit PR in their bid to make inroads into rural areas.

“In principle, we should unite all forces to go against the Barisan Nasional coalition,” Chong told reporters at the DAP headquarters here. Chong is Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman.- theborneopost