DAP YBs approached to join Teras claim

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, May 16, 2014: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen has claimed that the party's elected representatives were "informally approached" allegedly by Local Government Minister Wong Soon Koh to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

Soon Koh and 10 others, including Social Development Minister William Mawan, yesterday announced that they were joining Teras, a party which was registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) last year.

Soon Koh and three other elected representatives - Dr Jerip Susil, Johnical Rayong and Ranum Mina - resigned from Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) yesterday to join Teras.

Mawan resigned as SPDP president and as member yesterday.

Also resigning from SPDP were assistant ministers Peter Nansian, Sylvester Entrie and Rosey Yunus as well as Paulus Gumbang and Baram MP Anyie Ngau.

Sarawak Workers Party deputy president George Lagong also resigned from his party to join Teras.

Speaking to reporters after co-chairing Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state committee meeting here, Chong said:"Yes, he (Wong) did try to pinch some of our YBs. He can keep trying, (but) he will be disappointed."

Chong, who is State Assemblyman for Kota Sentosa and Bandar Kuching MP, insisted that none of the party's elected representatives would switch party or to join Teras.

He said Teras is a challenge to Chief Minister  Adenan Satem's leadership in the Barisan Nasional.

"Based on the latest political development in the state, we foresee the state election is around the corner."

State PKR leader Baru Bian rubbished claims that "more than two" elected representatives from PKR would join Teras.

"It was just presumption...Teras leaders were only dreaming," he said.

“We are friendly to everybody, but it doesn’t mean that we would join them.

"Our conviction is very clear. We have not seen much change in BN’s policy, so there is no basis for us to join (Teras),” Baru  said.

PKR has three state assemblymen – Baru (Be’kalalan), See Chee How (Batu Lintang) and Ali Biju (Krian), and one member of parliament Dr Michael Teo (Miri).

Meanwhile, the three-member Sarawak PR- DAP, PKR and Pas - has agreed on allocations involving 46 seats where there are no overlapping claims.

The overlapping claims on the remaining 25 seats will be solved later.

Both Chong and Baru declined to provide details on the seat allocations.