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SARAWAK BOLEH.

Date: 08 Aug 1999
Time: 23:43:49
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Sarawak opposition parties form new front

By Jack Wong

KUCHING: The three major opposition parties in Sarawak--DAP, State Reform Party, and Parti Keadilan Nasional--have forged a united front to enhance their chances of winning in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

In their first-ever top-level meeting here over the weekend, they reached a consensus that the opposition front should take on the Barisan Nasional on a one-to-one basis in all the 28 seats at stake.

"The allocation/distribution of seats for an election will be based on the candidate's ability to deliver the seat irrespective of which party he or she represents," the parties said in a joint press statement issued after the meeting.

The statement was signed by Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Sing Nang and its political education bureau director Wong Ho Leng, State Reform Party president Dr Patau Rubis and secretary-general Francis Siah and Sarawak Keadilan chief Yusuf Abdul Rahman and secretary Wan Zainal Sanusi.

A three-men selection committee comprising Sing Nang, Dr Patau and Yusuf will pick the candidates for the polls.

Dr Patau said the front had already identified who would stand the best chance of winning in which constituency.

Any disagreement on the choice of the candidates is expected to be referred back to the respective parties for a final decision.

Dr Patau, who is also the MP for Gas Gading, said the names of the opposition candidates would only be made known after the dissolution of Parliament.

The opposition front now has two MPs--Dr Patau and Chiew Chiu Sing (Bintulu), who is Sarawak DAP secretary.

The parties agreed to help one another whenever and wherever possible during the election campaign.

All media statements from them would be issued by a media secretariat jointly manned by officials from the three parties.

"We are hoping to come out with a common election manifesto. We are also working on a common election symbol," added Dr Patau.

Asked if a common symbol would be a disadvantage to DAP whose rocket symbol is familiar to most of the electorate, Wong said they were working towards a long-term objective.

He, however, added that a common symbol might not be used in the coming election even if it was approved by the Election Commission.


Last changed: August 08, 1999