Chong said PSB was the better opposition party to vote for compared to the likes of Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and the ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
However, he urged voters to still support PH in the seats it was contesting, saying it was a better coalition to ensure good governance or a stronger opposition.
The Sarawak DAP chief told reporters the people should not judge PH by its 22 months in power in Putrajaya, compared with the over-50 years that Barisan Nasional had ruled the state.
He said PH had never stolen or taken a single sen from the people, unlike its predecessors, whom he described as corrupt.
“Our track record has also shown that all 42 DAP MPs have stood by party principles despite the temptations we faced. This is a party of integrity and principles,” he said.
While saying that Sarawakians should vote for PSB in the absence of PH candidates, Chong expressed concern that if the party were to win its seats, it would move back to the government, noting that some of PSB’s candidates had roots in GPS.
“If you look back at history in Sarawak, many local-based parties do not have the stamina and will ultimately join the ruling party.
“As such, I can foresee PSB going along the same path as these local-based parties have done in the past,” he said.
He also said that voting for PBK would be the wrong choice as its calls for independence were immature and based on “shaky grounds”.
Devolution of power
Batu Kawah candidate Dr Kelvin Yii said a comprehensive action plan and timeline for a “meaningful devolution of power” must be drawn up following the passing of the MA63 bill.
He reiterated his call for GPS federal ministers and state leaders to commit and formulate a “power devolution blueprint” in Sarawak, which would outline key milestones within the next five to 10 years along with a periodic review of the progress made.
“Towards that end, we can start with devolving the powers for health and education for Sarawak,” he said. “Steps should be taken to insert education and healthcare in the concurrent list as responsibilities to be shared between the federal and the Sarawak and Sabah state governments.”
Yii said institutional reforms such as strengthening the Public Accounts Committee of the Sarawak state assembly and the establishment of multi-party select committees would be essential for stronger checks and balances as well as ensuring that government projects and programmes directly benefit the people.
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