“Such an arrangement, at all levels, undermines and subverts the will of Sarawak’s voters at large.
“Accepting the BN component parties into their coalition must be avoided at all cost,” it said in a statement today.
It said BN lost Putrajaya in the general election on May 9 because unhappy and dissatisfied voters were hoping for beneficial change.
“But if the state BN component parties are admitted into the PH coalition, what change can civil society expect?
“All the struggles of the civil society organisations against BN’s oppressive policies would be brought to nought,” it said.
The NGOs also said Sarawak people who had voted for state BN parties would not want such a move either, adding that BN should now play its role as the opposition to provide good checks and balances.
“For the last 60 years, Malaysia has never had a formidable opposition party,” it said.
The statement was signed by Save Sarawak Rivers Network, Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia, Sarawak Dayak Iban Association, Sarawak Dayak Association, Jaringan Tanah Hak Adat Bangsa Asal Sarawak, Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia, Gerakan Anak Sarawak, Sarawak Indigenous Lawyers Alliance, Persatuan Masyarakat Tering Miri, Building Indigenous Initiatives and Heritage, and Rise of Sarawak Efforts.
Speculation arose that Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), BN’s main component in Sarawak, was seeking to join PH after Prime Minister and PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly met Sarawak governor and former chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud in Kuala Lumpur on May 11.
Taib, who formerly chaired both PBB and Sarawak BN, is said to still wield significant influence in PBB.
PBB, which heads the ruling BN in Sarawak, holds 39 seats in the 71-seat Sarawak legislature, while PH components DAP and PKR have seven and three seats respectively.
Yesterday, PBB vice-president Awang Tengah Ali Hasan had said the party’s Supreme Working Council would hold a meeting on Wednesday to determine the party’s direction.
However, Sarawak PH has rejected any attempt to accept parties from the state BN, especially PBB. Its chairman, Chong Chieng Jen, said it would be akin to Umno joining PH.