Maintain unity to remain relevant, says PDP president

SIBU: Political parties must dare to be honest with themselves to ensure the strength and continuity of the struggle is maintained, said the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He stressed that the weakness of a party often stems from internal divisions, not external threats.
“The leadership and party members at all levels must maintain unity and discipline to ensure the party remains relevant and strong.
“In political struggle, we must be honest with ourselves. Sometimes a party becomes weak not because of external enemies, but because of internal divisions,” he said in his text of speech read by the Premier’s Political Secretary, Joshua Ting Fu Ying, during the opening of the Dudong PDP Division Tri-Annual General Meeting held at the Durin Bazaar Basketball Court near here on Sunday.
At the same time, Tiong, who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, stressed the importance of understanding and supporting the state government’s policies under the leadership of Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, which is now driving Sarawak towards becoming a low-carbon energy hub.
He said the agenda was not just rhetoric, but rather the future direction of the state which required strong support from all parties, especially party members.
“Party members must understand the government’s policies, explain them to the community and convince the people that this is the best direction for Sarawak,” he said.
He also reminded that party members are not just supporters, but are the main movers responsible for conveying the party’s policies and struggles to the grassroots level.
In this regard, Tiong, who is also Dudong assemblyman encouraged more people-oriented programmes to be implemented, besides stressing the need for leaders to go to the ground consistently and not just during election seasons.
“Don’t expect the people to come to see us. Instead, we should approach them to understand their pulse and the problems they face,” he said.
Commenting on the role of the party in the coalition, he stressed that unity in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) needs to be further strengthened through the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect between the component parties.
According to him, the political stability that Sarawak currently enjoys is the result of unity in GPS, which in turn is the foundation for the continued development of the state.
“Only with strong unity, can we ensure that the interests of the people are safeguarded and Sarawak’s development can continue successfully,” added Tiong, who is also Bintulu Member of Parliament.
Also present were Meluan assemblyman, Datuk Rolland Duat Jubin, Premier’s Political Secretary, Brian Fong, PDP Dudong Division chairman, Datuk Teo Boon Siew and other members.