JULAU lawmaker Larry Sng has stepped down as Sarawak PKR chief, party vice-president Chua Tian Chang or Tian Chua confirms today.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insight, Chua, however, is unsure about Sng’s position in PKR despite reports claiming that he has left the party.

“I can confirm he has stepped down as Sarawak PKR chief but I am not sure about his position in the party,” said Tian Chua when contacted. 

Malay Mail Online last night reported that Sng informed the Sarawak leadership council that he was relinquishing his party post in a video-conference meeting.

“He informed us of his decision to resign as the state chairman, but we have not heard of him wanting to leave the party,” PKR secretary Joshia Jabeng told the portal.

“We hope and pray that he will remain as a PKR member,” he added.

Several PKR lawmakers told The Malaysian Insight that they have no idea about Sng’s resignation from the party.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Maria Chin Abdullah said the party did not inform her about Sng’s decision.

“The party has been quiet and I think it is only a rumour that he is quitting PKR. I personally do not know,” said Maria.

Another MP, who requested anonymity, echoed Maria’s sentiment.

“I do not know about it. I haven’t checked my WhatsApp if he has indeed left the PKR chat group,” said the unnamed MP.

PKR communication director Fahmi Fadzil did not respond when contacted. 

Sng tried to quit the state post in December, saying an ethnic Dayak should lead the party in Sarawak. The PKR leadership, however, rejected the resignation.

He became Sarawak chief last year replacing Baru Bian, following Pakatan Harapan’s ouster from federal government that saw several PKR leaders and MPs quit the party to follow Mohamed Azmin Ali who allied with Bersatu to form Perikatan Nasional.

Baru later dropped his alliance with Azmin and joined another Sarawak opposition party.

In recent weeks, there has been speculation that a few PKR lawmakers would join PN.

Sng is the son of millionaire businessman and politician Sng Chee Hua, and also the son-in-law of tycoon Ting Pik Khiing.

Sng has been Julau MP since 2018. He won the seat as an independent and later joined PKR.

He belonged to several Sarawak parties, as well as becoming its youngest assistant minister in 2004 under the state Barisan Nasional administration led by then chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud. – February 28, 2021.