SNAP forms an alliance with MCLM but remains part of Pakatan Rakyat
(The Malaysian Insider) – The Sarawak National Party (SNAP) announced a working alliance with the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) today, but said would continue to be part of the Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The Dayak-dominated party has also received the support of former PKR leader Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s United Borneo Front (UBF) in the upcoming Sarawak election.
Kitingan left PKR recently after a disagreement with the party de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“SNAP and MCLM want the next federal government to honour the 20-point and the 18-point agreements,” said SNAP secretary-general Stanley Jugol, referring to the treaties that led Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia with the Malayan states and Singapore in 1963. Singapore was subsequently expelled in 1965.
“We look forward to working with MCLM in the next state election,” said Jugol.
He, however, stressed that the party would continue to work with PR parties to ensure a straight fights against Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Sarawak election, which must be held by this July.
MCLM president Haris Ibrahim, who was also at the press conference, issued similar guarantee.
“I would imagine, at some juncture, parties with similar objective of unseating the Taib government must sit together to offer the best candidate,” said Haris referring to the Sarawak’s chief minister for 30 years Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Haris also said the MCLM would assist SNAP for candidate selection when the party seeks its co-operation.
“Our co-operation is strategic in nature, I do not plan to disclose the strategies we have agreed on,” he said when asked to elaborate the MCLM-SNAP alliance.
When asked about MCLM’s collaboration with other PR parties, Haris said the movement was willing to work with all parties except Barisan Nasional (BN).
“MCLM is prepared to work with all pro-rakyat parties,” said Haris.
“It has not happen yet, I don’t know if it is not going to happen,” he said when asked about MCLM possible co-operation with PKR.
Yesterday, MCLM chairman Raja Petra Kamarudin had said that the movement’s co-operation with Sabah and Sarawak opposition parties would be the first step before forming a single national alliance to oust BN in the next election.
