KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak is willing to work with partners state Democratic Action Party (DAP) and state Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) in the new coalition Pakatan Harapan Sarawak.
“Our national leaders have announced that PKR, DAP and Amanah had formed a new coalition called Pakatan Harapan. I then announced (on September 25) that PKR Sarawak is part of Pakatan Harapan, in keeping with the structure of the national coalition.This means that PKR Sarawak is part of Pakatan Harapan Sarawak.
“We are aware that PAS had been invited by the federal leaders to be part of Pakatan Harapan but they declined, and therefore at state level, I believe that PAS Sarawak would take the cue from their national leaders and decline to join Pakatan Harapan. This should be plain and obvious,” said PKR Sarawak chairman Baru Bian in a statement.
Baru, who is also Ba’ Kelalan assemblyman, was responding to news reports of PKR’s absence at a joint press conference by DAP and Amanah at DAP Sarawak’s office in Kuching on Oct 1.
“It should be noted that we have always maintained a consistent stand. Whilst the former coalition Pakatan Rakyat was in existence, we continued to maintain ties with PAS, while DAP left Pakatan Rakyat and refused communication with PKR and PAS. Thus the cooperation within Pakatan Rakyat Sarawak was severely disrupted.
“Now that there is a new coalition, we should resume the work towards our common goals. Since it is plain that PAS is not a member of Pakatan Harapan, there is no necessity to debate or speculate on the matter. PKR Sarawak has also made a firm stand on the issue of hudud and we should put the matter to rest,” he reiterated.
He added that he was made to understood that the coalition parties were finalising the agreements and necessary formalities for Pakatan Harapan.
“Once all the details are ironed out and the pact formalised, we will resume our seat negotiations with DAP and Amanah in Sarawak. I look forward to a dynamic and mutually advantageous relationship with our coalition partners in Pakatan Harapan for the benefit of the people of Sarawak and Malaysia,” he said.
At a joint press conference on Oct 1, state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen and state Amanah chairman Mohamad Fidzuan Zaidi said both parties welcomed the formation of Pakatan Harapan Sarawak, and would discuss the matter with PKR.