Jeffrey to help Snap regain its glory

Sabah's political maverick
Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and his
supporters will be backing
Snap instead of PKR in the
Sarawak state polls

Luke Rintod of FMT
KOTA KINABALU: Former PKR vice-president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and his supporters are set to throw their support behind Sarawak National Party (Snap) candidates rather than PKR in the Sarawak state election.

They are understood to have held discussions with Snap leaders in Kuching and Miri to build some form of co-operation and a businessman from Kuala Lumpur, a former PKR associate, is said to be helping in the process.

FMT learnt that Jeffrey’s group though still party-less, would “officially” help Snap and Jeffrey himself would spend most of his time campaigning in areas surrounding Kuching.

His henchmen from United Borneo Front (UBF) and those who are still party-less, after exiting PKR, would depart for Miri, Bintulu and Kuching from April 5 on the eve of nomination day to help Snap’s quest to win Dayak seats.

The group was tightlipped on their programmes and had so far restrained anybody from the group from openly supporting Snap.

It is no secret though that Jeffrey is attempting to form a United Borneo Alliance, linking Snap with a Sabah party, which is currently still non-existent.

According to insiders, Jeffrey also played a role in influencing Snap not to put up candidates in areas PKR is putting known credible Dayak candidates such as Baru Bian, Nicholas Bawin Anggat, Mengga Mikui and a few others as a goodwill gesture to Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition umbrella.

“We would be following our Dayak brothers to campaign in long-houses, and give our opinion why a state-based party like Snap is important for the short and long terms to be supported by the locals,” said a former Sabah PKR leader who is an ally of Jeffrey.

Nomination for the Sarawak polls has been fixed for April 6 while polling is on April 16.

Unlikely settlement

A resurgent SNAP has been embroiled in overlapping claims with Peninsular-based PKR on the Dayak seats. There are about 30 Dayaks seats in the 71-seat state assembly.

Snap, basically a Dayak-based party, though multi-racial in concept, is not giving up its “right” in those seats, which are also being eyed by PKR.

Within the national and state PKR innermost circle, it is their belief that PKR would win in many Dayak seats, if it is a one-to-one fight with Barisan Nasional.

This explains the intense lobbying by PKR for the Dayak-majority seats, and in the process angering many who would like to see the once-glorious Snap making a comeback.

PKR however failed to acknowledge this Dayak nationalism and instead pushed the Sarawak party to contest in just three initially but later four Dayak seats, which to many Sarawakians, is a gross insult to the local party.

“We would contest in about 30 seats if we have a deal. But first PKR must solve their problem of overlapping lists,” said Snap leader Paul Kadang on Thursday.

Snap, he said, would not buckle down to PKR’s desire to contest in 52 seats.

As negotiations go on, it appears pressure from respective supporters of both parties would make it difficult for Snap and PKR to reach an amicable solution.