KUCHING: The opposition parties in Sarawak must watch each other’s back if they want to stand up against the Barisan Nasional (BN) to eventually form a two-party system.
State PKR vice chairman See Chee How said if PKR, DAP and PAS in Sarawak could not work closely together, the people in general would lose confidence in PR.
“If PR is not united, we will not have the political leverage to fight Barisan Nasional,” he said in a phone interview with The Borneo Post’s sister paper See Hua Daily News yesterday.
See, who is also Batu Lintang assemblyman and a lawyer by profession, cautioned that voters might pick an independent candidate or a candidate of the new parties if PKR, DAP and PAS were divided.
“The risk is that the people may go for an independent candidate or decide to support the new parties.”
The two new political parties in the state are United Peoples’ Party (UPP) currently led by Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (former SUPP heavyweight) and Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) led by Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (former SPDP president).
See felt that PR members in Sarawak should talk things through and place the interests of PR Sarawak above all else.
Only when all PR leaders discuss and sort issues out can the opposition stand a chance to establish a two-party system, he pointed out.
“A two-party system is the whole point why people voted for us. Without the hope of seeing this happen, how can we expect the people to have confidence in us?
“No doubt there are many types of voters with some merely voting for the sake of voting while others are hoping their elected representatives could voice their discontentment.
“However, there are those who want to see a two-party system in Malaysia. And this group of voters is placing hope on us to make it happen.”
Without collaboration and sheer determination among PR members, See feared that the opposition would remain on the opposing side instead of rising above various challenges to rule the country.
“Once the two-party system is born, voters can easily change the government of the day if they are not happy with any policies. Such a system will help ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the government in delivering services.”
He added this would be in line with the PR’s direction and aim of fighting corruption to achieve transparency so as to defend the rights and interests of the people.