Fed up being treated second class by Malaya, Is DAP Sarawak mulling to form new party?

SUPP claims its rival, DAP Sarawak is fed up with being treated as second class by their Malayan officials.

KUCHING: Is DAP Sarawak preparing to ‘severe’ its umblical cord with its national parent and form a state based party?

Its rival Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) claims that such plans are afoot and is a reaction to calls to “ban” Malayan-based political parties from the state.

In a statement yesterday, SUPP Youth wing claimed that DAP Sarawak had been “dealt a raw deal” in terms of representation in the national DAP central working committee (CWC).

The statement noted that Sarawak DAP had only one representative in the CEC.

“Conversely Sarawak BN has the best representation ratio ever in the history of the Malaysian Cabinet.

“Actions of the DAP Sarawak in the past few weeks show that DAP Sarawak is probably preparing to form a Sarawakian based opposition party.

“We would like to ask DAP Sarawak, are you forming a Sarawak based opposition party?” they asked.

The party reasoned that DAP’s recent actions in wanting the Sarawak Government in the State Legislative Assembly to declare that Umno be banned from Sarawak seemed to confirm this.

“In essence this would mean banning all West–Malaysian parties including DAP, PAS and PKR.

“We wish to ask (YB) Karpal Singh, (YB) Lim Kit Siang and (YAB) Lim Guan Eng if they are aware of the goings-on in Sarawak,” the statement said.

SUPP Youth also claimed that the recent sacking of a DAP assemblyman in Miri by its national committee also signified that state DAP was exasperated at “being treated as second class despite all its contribution to the so called political tsunami”.

“DAP Sarawak must be fed up by the constant interference by their west Malaysian counterparts,” they said.

KL’s interference

Last November, the DAP Disciplinary Committee expelled its Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck for “non-compliance to the requirement to contribute to the party a portion of his emoluments or allowances as an elected representative”.

Fong nevertheless claimed the actual reasons behind his sacking were, among others,  that he had refused to attend a pre-nomination rally organised by DAP Senadin and help PKR Miri candidate Dr Michael Teo to campaign in the GE13.

“The Sarawak state committee is understood to be equipped with a team of professional lawyers. The ethics of the law is that the burden of proof is on the prosecution, but I was expelled with no solid evidence at all.

“It was ridiculous for the Sarawak state committee to expel me for the above mentioned reasons and all these moves have made me feel completely disappointed with the party,” he said.

Fong alleged six of his comrades — Wong Keng Tiong, Lim Lan Hua, Ting Mee Hiong, Violet Lee, Lee Yun Li and Paul Wong — who were also expelled by the Disciplinary Committee, were ‘victims’ of  following the rules and channelling their complaints through the internal channels.

Fong claimed to have also used internal channels to complain about unjust treatment against him, but all his complaints fell on deaf ears.

By Winston Way