Alan Ling Sie Kiong
MIRI: Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak secretary Alan Ling Sie Kiong welcomes Bersatu’s intention to spread its wings to the state.
He said it is logical for Bersatu and a normal process for any political party with a vision to move forward in order to achieve its goal of reaching out to the people.
“Politically, they have to come in, just like when DAP expanded to Sarawak 40 years ago and PKR in early 2000, and even Amanah a relatively new party have their branches and members here,” Ling told The Borneo Post yesterday when asked for his views on the decision by Bersatu to enter Sarawak.
According to Ling, it is normal and a legitimate thing for any political party to expand its influence and enlarge its political base, and Sarawak provides a ‘lacuna’ for such entry.
Ling, who is also DAP Sarawak secretary, reasoned that the entry of Bersatu will complement PH Sarawak in its quest for power come the 12th state polls in two and half years’ time.
“We must view the entry of Bersatu from a positive perspective and deal with the new development which may change the political landscape of Sarawak with political maturity and Sarawakians’ interests in mind.
“Bersatu is not Umno. Bersatu was formed to fight Umno and with the support of the people and the combination of political strengths from each of the PH component parties like PKR, DAP and Amanah, PH is able to form the federal government on May 9,” he said.
Ling stressed that PH’s victory was due to various factors other than BN scandals, but the key determining factor “that one cannot deny is the bold step taken by PH then to include Bersatu with Tun Dr Mahathir as the key pusher for reforms”.
“Sacrifices made by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Mohamad Sabu must not be forgotten, but the bold step taken by Tun Mahathir and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to leave Umno a totally new party and new coalition with the aim to topple BN is really beyond bravery,” he added.
He pointed out that it was a political risk on one’s dignity but they were determined to go with PH for the good of the people and future generations.
“The world is a village with the advancement of technology, what more to say political expansion, so take it easy. the most worried party is perhaps PBB,” he reckoned.