Sarawak DAP hits ‘dead end’ in election seat talks

Sarawak DAP hits ‘dead end’ in election seat talks

PSB president Wong Soon Koh is reported to have demanded one parliamentary seat from DAP.

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen (left) said PSB president Wong Soon Koh’s demands were unreasonable.
PETALING JAYA:
Sarawak DAP’s election seat negotiations with Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) have reached a dead end after PSB president Wong Soon Koh said Sarawak DAP must “sacrifice” one parliamentary seat.

According to Astro Awani, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said the party could not agree to PSB’s demands.

Chong said that if PSB wanted to cooperate with DAP ahead of the parliamentary elections, the party needs to be sincere and not impose such conditions.

“I think this is an unreasonable request. This means we have to drop an existing MP to make way for PSB. We are seemingly being held ransom,” he was quoted as saying.

Sarawak DAP entered into discussions about cooperation with other opposition parties in Sarawak in April.

Chong has said that Sarawak DAP has autonomy to cooperate with any political party in the state while still remaining part of Pakatan Harapan.

He said the Sarawak state elections in December had shown a need for the main opposition parties to work together to topple the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

DAP won in only two of 24 seats contested while PKR lost in all its 28 contests. PSB, contesting the state polls for the first time, won four seats; Batu Lintang, Ba’kelalan, Bawang Assan and Engkilili.

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