KOTA KINABALU: Bidayuh leaders in Sarawak PKR may be on the verge of abandoning the party to join Sarawak Nasional Party (Snap).
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| Can PKR de facto leader Anwar stem rumours of native Bidayuh leaders leaving Sarawak PKR? |
The indigenous native community political leaders are believed to have held a secret meeting a few days ago in Kuching to pave the way for the switch in party allegiance
Reliable sources told FMT that PKR vice president, John Tenewi Nuek, a Bidayuh leader, is among those who will join Snap and is now assessing the right timing to announce their decision.
“They have come to the realisation that Peninsular-based PKR is not their best option but to be united with other Dayaks, notably the Ibans, under a resurgent state party Snap.
Snap, which produced Sarawak’s first Chief Minister, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, is coming back into political limelight under Dayak leader Daniel Tajem who called for all Dayaks to unite under the Snap banner.
“The Bidayuh leaders, including possibly Tenewi himself, are set to give Anwar Ibrahim, de facto leader of PKR, a shock when he arrives in Kuching for the PKR state convention this weekend,” said a PKR leader who claimed to be in the know of what is going on in Sarawak.
There has been a steady exodus of Dayak leaders and members from PKR lately.
PKR deputy secretary-general, Paul Kadang, is among those who quit PKR months ago to join Snap.
Anwar knows
Anwar could have already been alerted to news of the imminent exodus.
“We will not be surprised Anwar or party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, are already talking to John Tenewi about this,” said a party leader who asked not to be identified.
One Bidayuh leader said that barring any last minute change, it is only a matter of days before the Bidayuh leaders join Snap.
“We don’t like to be noisy. We know what is best for us. We need to empower the state and Sarawakians like before,” said another leader who also asked not to be identified.
The Bidayuh community is the fourth largest ethnic group in the land of the hornbill.
Called “Dayak Darat” by the former White Rajahs of old Sarawak, the community is concentrated in about nine of the 71 state constituencies.
It is in the best interest of Sabahans and Sarawakians to unite under the Borneo-based party(ies) rather than always looking up to the nostrils of Malaya's leaders. It amazes me that despite the colonialistic and condescending attitude of Malayan leaders towards them, many Borneons still look at these Colonial Masters as "Saviours with Saving Grace"!!
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