PRO-AUTONOMY group Sarawak for Sarawakians has urged all lawmakers in the state to “remain faithful to the wishes” of voters amid reports that state parties under Barisan Nasional were planning to join Pakatan Harapan.

“Sarawak voters have been very clear in their wishes,” Peter John Jaban, spokesman for the group, said in a statement today.

He said voters gave the late chief minister Adenan Satem a landslide victory in the state election in 2016 largely for his stance on Sarawak autonomy.

“However, at the federal level, they rejected corruption by switching their support in huge numbers to Pakatan Harapan, now the ruling government, even in a number of rural seats that had previously been subject to allegations of extensive vote buying and electoral fraud.

“This is a sign of mature democratic thinking in Sarawak and must be respected at all costs. The state government has a mandate and must stand by that while the new federal representatives have their own job to do.”

Peter John said any attempt to “jump ship” undermined the principles on which they were elected and is “a slap in the face to voters”.  

“More importantly, Sarawak deserves to have a strong opposition at the state level to stimulate debate and the development of democracy, something that will be wiped out if BN component parties are consumed by PH.”

He supported statements by Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chieng Jen and state PKR leader Baru Bian to reject any move to bring BN component parties into the PH fold.  

“Even (state BN tourism minister) Karim Hamzah is on record rubbishing claims that (BN party) Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) has any wish to join PH.  

“These are Sarawak’s elected representatives and their vision for their respective parties must be upheld.  Reports that the governor of Sarawak (Taib Mahmud) is seeking to broker a deal are horrifying. This is a man who holds no elected position and, therefore, cannot be expected to speak for the people of Sarawak.”

He added that if PH wanted to lead the Sarawak government, it must win it on its own terms at the next state election. – May 13, 2018