Wong speaks at PSB’s Southern Zone branches Mid-Autumn Festival dinner at a restaurant at Crown Square in Kuching last night.
KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) will shake-up the political landscape of Sarawak in the upcoming state election, said its president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
In view of this, Wong urged PSB members in Kuching to be ready to face the upcoming state election as PSB intends to fight its way back into the mainstream politics and start a new political chapter in the state political environment.
“PSB will choose the most winnable candidates to contests in all the seats in Kuching, including Batu Kawa, Sentosa, Pandungan, Batu Kitang, Pending and Batu Lintang,” he said to the crowd of about 1,000 people with 101 tables served.
“People said it was very difficult for me to make a political comeback after I resigned from the cabinet.
But I did it so that PSB can have a brighter political future,” said Wong at the party’s southern zone branches Mid-Autumn Festival dinner at a restaurant at Crown Square here last night.
Contenting that life is a cycle which it is full of both good and bad times, Wong remarked it is normal for one’s journey to be faced with challenges and smooth period, as long as one is able to take decisive actions when the needs arise.
For the past six months, Wong said the political party has been registering tremendously growth in its development and membership base especially among the Dayak-dominated community in the rural areas.
“Because of this, some Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties have regarded us as a threat and they took a series of measures against us, to marginalise us.”
Wong said the decision to accept GPS component parties’ parliament members and political leaders into PSB’s fold might have irked those within the GPS coalition.
“And when GPS had carried out a series of measures to try to sideline us, I felt that I no longer have the moral locus standi to represent our party PSB in the state cabinet. It was also a matter of political integrity that I had to resign from the cabinet.”
“And now we (PSB) are free to do what we want. Not like in the past, we are GPS-friendly. Squabbling with people here and there but we are neither here or there. But now, the way ahead of us is wide open. Our future is going to be very wide.”
He recounted that it was a tough decision for him to make when he resigned as both Second Finance Minister – a post he held for 15 years – and Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce which he served for two years.
“I took the decision to resign as ministers for the best interest of PSB. Now, our party has greater freedom and flexibility to chart our political path forward. And I believe there is a bright prospect as the party charge ahead.”
With the support from the community as the party’s backbone, Wong reckoned it will assist in the party’s fight for a fairer and equal Sarawak where the interest of the people will be protected, irrespective of their race, faith, culture and background.
“Since PSB was rebranded from United People’s Party (UPP), the party has been receiving overwhelming support from the public where tens of thousands of people are applying to join our party.”
As a result, Wong said the party is ready to raise their flags in all corners of the Sarawak by setting up service centres and branches in rural areas to serve the people better.
“The political path ahead of PSB is certainly broader and brighter. We promise to the diverse society of ours that we will fight for the rights and interests of the Sarawak’s people. We will fight for equality and justice for all, irrespective of their race.”, said Wong.