The DAP-SNAP proposal mooted as a direct result of the 416 Sarawak election results which saw an unprecedented political awakening of all Sarawakians, transcending race, religion or region, has attracted unprecedented interest and attention.
It has elicited a most diverse and divergent responses, from all-out opposition to all-out support.
There are those who say that SNAP has become a nonentity, as illustrated by its disastrous electoral performance in the recent Sarawak state general elections where SNAP failed to capture a single seat and its candidates lost their deposits in 24 of 26 constituencies contested.
That, furthermore, the total votes garnered by all of SNAP’s candidates combined were less than those garnered by independent candidates – and that SNAP came in last in almost all multi-cornered fights.
At the other end of the spectrum, there has been ecstatic reactions such as hailing the proposal as a “creative response” to “society’s vast inertia and small margin for change” with the potential to break the mould of Malaysian and Sarawakian politics.
What probably makes the DAP-SNAP merger proposal quite unique is that it has united voices not only from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat but also from the SNAP leadership.
On the BN side, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself set the cue when he publicly said that he did not see how SNAP could work with the DAP because their ideologies are different.
On the PR side, several PR leaders and websites have raised objections.
SNAP leaders have also not been very enamoured by the proposal. For instance the SNAP Secretary-General Stanley Jugol in Kota Kinabalu seemed to have set his face against the merger proposal and even made a serious accusation against the DAP.
Be that as it may, I welcome the open attitude of SNAP veteran and adviser Daniel Tajem who said that the idea of a DAP-SNAP merger should not be dismissed outright.
My message to all in the face of such diverse and divergent views covering both extremes of the spectrum is: By all means, discuss the merits or demerits of the DAP-SNAP proposal but don’t question the integrity of DAP leaders or it will open up a Pandora’s Box.
One irrefutable and ineluctable fact that has been established in the 416 Sarawak state general election is that Pakatan Rakyat has taken firm root in Sarawak and is in the state to stay to help determine its future and destiny.
It is the task and challenge of all the component parties in Pakatan Rakyat – DAP, PKR and PAS – to deepen PR roots in Sarawak as part of the larger PR struggle to bring about political change in Malaysia in the next general elections, expected any time.
In all the 33 years DAP has set foot in Sarawak since 1978, the party has remained loyal and committed to be a party for all Sarawkians just as DAP is a party for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region.
In the 1991 sixth Sarawak state general elections, DAP contested in 18 seats fielding Chinese, Iban, Dayak and Malay candidates, including mixed and rural areas such as Asajaya, Serdeng, Matu-Daro, Balingian, Belaga, Kemena and Limbang.
For 12 years, DAP contested in four Sarawak general elections embracing the 1979, 1982, 1987 and 1991 Sarawak State elections without winning a single seat in the Sarawak State Assembly.
It is only after 17 years of unremitting determination and commitment that DAP made its first breakthrough into the Sarawak State Assembly, winning three DAP State Assembly seats in the 1996 general elections.
As demonstrated by the 416 Sarawak state general elections, DAP and Pakatan Rakyat have been able to get the support of Sarawakians regardless of race, religion or region and the greatest challenge of DAP and Pakatan Rakyat is how to translate this great reservoir of support for UBAH from Sarawakians of all races into votes in the forthcoming 13th general elections, which could be held as early as the third quarter of this year.
///SNAP Secretary-General Stanley Jugol in Kota Kinabalu seemed to have set his face against the merger proposal and even made a serious accusation against the DAP.///
I have read the comment by Jugol on DAP-SNAP merger. I think Jugol should learn to be humble and put the interests of Sarawakians before self ambition.
If DAP-SNAP happend to merge,remember this idiot Stanley Jugol.The least Dap can accept him is to recruit him to be a sweeper or clogged-drain cleaner.
PAS can rule Kelantan for a long long time to come. DAP merging with SNAP can usher in a new corrupt-free regime in Sarawak. It is for PKR to try and use all its resources to work with Bajaus and Kadazans in Sabah to form a PKR-Bajau-Kadazan regime in Sabah come next election. With this foundation, Pakatan Rakyat will stand a chance to replace BN within two general elections. For the sake of the larger good, PKR and PAS should consider leaving Sarawak, and DAP should leave Sabah.
Chua Soi lek said that SUPP having lost the confidence of Chinese should not have its Chinese assemblymen join the Sarawak Cabinet. Chua Soi Lek’s statement was supported by MCA ministers and deputy ministers. They are watched if they do what they preach in the next general election.
Whether or not MCA receives Chinese support in Peninsular like SUPP in Sarawak would be in dispute whatever the results show. To preempt the argument MCA should only field its candidates in Chinese majority areas, and in mixed seats, Chinese formed the largest proportion of voters, to claim that they received Chinese. That is a concession offered to MCA over MCA’s demand from SUPP assemblymen who were voted in from Chinese majority areas. Thus, MCA does not have to rely on overall results, but just the results of the constituencies its candidates contest in the next GE. UMNO can take note that unless MCA candidates are fielded in Chinese majority areas, they will be considered running dogs of UMNO if MCA candidates run and elected in Malay majority area.
If UMNO still wish to have MCA MPs to window-dress its cabinet it should direct the Election Commission (after all the Commission is known to be UMNO’s branch) to split some urban constituencies so that by fluke MCA might be able to buy a couple of seats.
UMNO might choose to ‘teach Chinese a lessen’ when all MCA candidates lost in the general election and Chinese do not get represented in the cabinet. We are happy to learn that lesson.
SNAP should dissolve and join DAP while Keadilan should be a partner and must not hurt Keadialan in Sarawak.
It is always a team work. DAP alone could not win Sarawak.
We must always forgive and accept others and welcome others to join to fight corruption. An idiot also could influence people.
Words of mouth is powerful while seeing is believing.
It is always a team work.
Uncle Lim, be aware, be very aware that the BN can use SNAP to rout the DAP!
Especially, when this party has a history being associated with the BN.
There is nothing that the BN will not do to win in the next GE.
So, bear this very clearly in mind!
SNAP is envisaged as the voice of all native Sarawakians but over the past few decades, it had failed to deliver anything significant to the people. Even the latest election, they failed so badly. Why? BN has a portent fear of a rising SNAP hence will do anything to cripple it. SNAP leadership must also agree that, based on the results of recent past, they need some assistance to move forward, faster than they have time for. the Basic fear of many “leaders’ is the ‘loss of leadership”, hence the tuais are so easily cashed out! Without doubt, all the Oppositions would have to “merge’ sooner or later, the exception may be PAS with its basic religious based ideology; thigh it can still be a partner in the coalition. Unless, SNAP intend to stay put in Sarawak, where state power ,though huge in that State, it is still a state power with all major decisions still at the Federal level. SNAP, think about it!