SWP to contest seven seats, Larry likely in Pelagus

KUCHING: Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) will be contesting in seven seats in the next state election with its president Larry Sng likely to stand in his former constituency of Pelagus.

“I hope to contest in Pelagus. From now to the next state election, there is still a bit of time and many things can change,” said Sng.

He said the party has decided to contest in seven seats in the coming state election out of which, it would stand in four seats – Pelagus, Meluan, Engkilili and Tamin – whose candidates have been identified.

Sng kept mum on the three other seats as the candidates are yet to be named.

“We will announce it after we have gauged our chances of winning in the areas,” Sng told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Though the state election is two years away at least, Sng decided to make the announcement because other political parties – ruling and opposition – already have their election machinery in place and are moving on the ground.

“We can’t leave things to the last minute. We have to prepare our members and let them know the direction to head for,” said the former deputy president of Party Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) before being sacked for insubordination.

He admitted he was not able to gauge the winning chances in these seven seats, but the party intended to move on the ground and listen to the grassroots.

On whether the party would join Pakatan Rakyat (PR), Sng said SWP is an opposition party and in its last annual general meeting, delegates had agreed it should work with opposition parties.

He had met with PR leaders and was waiting for things to be finalised.

“We are moving in that direction and will make an announcement at the appropriate time.”

SWP, a new party registered in April 2012 contested in all six parliamentary constituencies of PRS – Julau, Kanowit, Hulu Rajang, Lubok Antu, Sri Aman and Selangau – in the last general election but it failed to capture any of these seats from PRS.

Sng admitted that PRS – a Barisan Nasional (BN) component that is better facilitated and equipped with election machinery and facilities – could extend its influence. - theborneopost