By Clara Chooi
April 21, 2011

KUCHING, April 21 — Sarawak PKR demanded a clarification today from Lim Kit Siang for inviting SNAP to merge with DAP without prior discussion with his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners.

SNAP, a Sarawak-based opposition party, came at odds with PKR during the just concluded Sarawak polls after seat distribution talks broke down.

Warning that such a merger would affect the existing relationship between PR’s key coalition partners — PKR, DAP and PAS — Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said today that Lim, as a veteran leader in the DAP, should explain his suggestion.

“Sarawak PKR is surprised to learn that Lim Kit Siang wants a ‘merger’ of DAP and SNAP. Since we are PR partners, we would appreciate a clarification of this proposal from Lim and the DAP,” he said in a statement today.

Baru, who was one of three PKR candidates who triumphed in the just-concluded Sarawak polls, reminded Lim that SNAP had attempted to “undermine” PKR by contesting against the party and forcing multi-cornered fights.

“SNAP has also consistently been negatively critical of PKR for reasons best known only to them.

“If anything, PKR Sarawak is deeply disappointed and saddened by SNAP’s approach within PR since we have always regarded SNAP as our partners,” he said.

Prior to the polls, SNAP had also promised not to campaign against DAP and PAS but it did no such thing with PKR and clashed head-on with the party in all 26 of the seats it contested.

Despite this, the party failed to capture a single seat and its candidates even lost their deposits in 24 constituencies after they failed to garner one eighth of the votes cast.

“As proven by its disastrous electoral performance, SNAP has no electoral machinery, little political capital and even less social clout on the ground.

“The total votes garnered by all of SNAP’s candidates combined were less than those garnered by independent candidates. SNAP came in last in almost all multi-cornered fights,” Baru noted.

He added that SNAP’s fight in the Sarawak campaign had only served to confuse the electorate, weaken PR and help Barisan Nasional secure a victory.

BN managed a landslide victory in Saturday’s polls when it recaptured its two-thirds majority and won 55 seats in the 71-seat assembly.

“We are therefore deeply puzzled by Lim’s purpose in suggesting a ‘merger’ between the DAP and a party like SNAP.

“It is Sarawak PKR’s considered opinion that such proposals should be thoroughly discussed behind closed doors.

“This would ensure that all component parties of PR fully understand and endorse the objectives of such a possible merger; which ultimately must strengthen the coalition,” he said.

Without discussion, Baru added, such a merger would confuse PKR and DAP members as both parties had stood shoulder-to-shoulder during the polls to campaign against both BN and SNAP.

He added that such mergers by any partner in PR should be made to enhance diversity and reflect the multi-ethnic politics promoted by the pact instead of deepening any existing cleavages.

As an alternative, Baru suggested that SNAP dissolve and allow members to join other parties.

“In this way, we believe that SNAP cannot ever be made use of as a vehicle to further undermine the stable coherence of PR in the years to come,” he said.

Baru was commenting on a suggestion by Lim on Tuesday calling for a merger between DAP and SNAP to accelerate the Dayak “political awakening” and capitalise on the swing of votes from the local communities in support of the PR.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insider today, SNAP president Edwin Dundang said the party was elated at being “wooed” by political parties from both BN and PR, citing PR’s DAP and BN’s Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Umno as examples.