Members of Calon Independent Alliance (CIA) at the press conference. Fong is fourth from left, while Yeu is third from right.
SIBU: The coming state election will be a crowded affair as people associated with Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) have formed an alliance called Calon Independent Alliance (CIA) to gear up for the polls.
In a press conference yesterday, former DAP member cum Pujut assemblyman Fong Poh Teck announced the formation of CIA – an unregistered body comprising potential candidates for the election, which must be held by June 20 next year.
He said CIA aimed to field 42 candidates in urban and rural constituencies.Present at the press conference were CIA representatives from Miri, Kapit, Bintulu, Sibu and Kuching.
“CIA is made up of representatives of independent candidates. We are not a political party and, therefore, there is no need for us to register. We now have more than a dozen people who have confirmed contesting in the coming state election.”
He said they had two goals in their undertakings – to restore the self-determination of the people and to restore the position of Sarawak in Malaysia by reviewing the 18-point agreement when Sarawak partnered with others to form Malaysia in 1963. Fong welcomed others to join them, saying those interested should be those who had the same goal to achieve a breakthrough for Sarawak.
He said they were eyeing to contest in 42 seats, and they hoped others with the same goal would join them to make their alliance a strong and influential force for the people of Sarawak.
“CIA’s door is open. Opposition parties like DAP can join our alliance if they have the same goal.”
He said if their cooperation with DAP could be worked out. Both could, for instance, sign a memorandum so that they would not overlap in the constituencies they were contesting.
On the other hand, he said, they would help each other out during the election campaign.
Yeu Bang Keng of Kapit said the setting up of CIA was not to go against BN nor Pakatan Rakyat.
He said their aim was to stay close with the people of Sarawak in their struggles.
“S4S is a voice of the people and CIA is an alliance that lets the people decide what they want in their self determination.”
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