Julau MP Larry Sng to quit as Sarawak PKR chairman

SIBU: Julau MP Larry Sng says he is stepping down as Sarawak PKR chairman, a post which he took over in May this year.

Sng said he would discuss with party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the selection of his replacement when he steps down.

His reason for stepping down was to let a Dayak leader take over the post and lead the party in the Sarawak state election which is due in June next year.

"After much consideration, I have decided that it is in the best interest for Sarawak PKR to be led by a Dayak leader going into the Sarawak state elections," he said on Facebook on Monday (Dec 21).

He said he believed that by making this change within Sarawak PKR’s leadership, it would augur well and lend the party more credibility in its fight against economic inequalities in the private sector, inequalities in selection and promotion in the public service and in addressing native customary land issues.

"Even though I am elected in a predominantly Dayak parliamentary seat and have had experience also in state administration, I am confident that the party will find a good replacement. We should not take the past defection of our former MPs from Puncak Borneo, Saratok, Lubok Antu and Selangau as a case against Dayak leadership in Sarawak PKR," he said.

He added that had they remained with Sarawak PKR, Pakatan Harapan would still be in government today.

"The sins of the few should not rest on the shoulders of the many, and I am confident that the people will vote Sarawak PKR back to represent them in those areas which we have lost," he said.

He said that the majority of Sarawakians are Dayaks who represented 43% of the population with Malay and Chinese representation at 24%.

However, the poorest and most undeveloped areas in the state are within rural Dayak constituencies.

"Dayaks are also under-represented in the top leadership roles in both government and opposition parties," he said.