Member of Parliament for Gopeng, Dr Lee Boon Chai, has a message for the people who want a change in the federal government after the coming general elections.

"I have one message for the people and it comes from the DAP, and it is ‘ubah'. This is the message for the next general elections," he said at a dinner to thank workers and supporters of PKR for its victory in Batu Lintang in the recent state elections.

NONEThe dinner, at a restaurant in Kuching, was also attended by some PKR leaders.

Sarawak PKR information chief See Chee How (right), who is also a human rights activist, beat SUPP Youth chief Sih Hua Tong and Independent Lina Soo.

Lee said the ‘ubah' message had been effective in awakening the people's support for the Pakatan Rakyat candidates in winning 15 seats, out of the 71 seats they contested against BN.

He said the wish for change did not come only from the Chinese community, but across the board, covering the Ibans, Malays and Orang Ulus.

"I think it is time for change to happen, and next time, we will do better.

"And if you look at the voting trend for the BN, its popular votes have declined from 63 percent in 2006 state elections to 55 percent in the recent state elections.

"If the trend continues, the next government will be the Pakatan government in Sarawak," he said.

Four more parlimentary seats

He said if the pattern of voting in the recent Sarawak state elections is extended to the national elections, the possibility of PR retaining Bandar Kuching and Sibu and capturing Miri, Sarikei, Lanang and Stampin would be brighter.

"So, I think PR will get at least four additional seats in the coming parliamentary elections," Lee said.

He said if the trends go across the board throughout the country, he is pretty sure that the dream of PR capturing Putra Jaya is within sight.

"And we are going to do it," he said.

Lee said PR has been accepted by all the races in Sarawak. "This proves that our decision to form a multi-racial party, PKR, was a right decision," he said.

Pay more attention

Dr Lee also called on the Chinese to community to pay more attention to the plight of other races in Sarawak where poverty is rampant and that their lands have robbed and homes displaced in the names of development.

"I do hope that the Chinese community, when they fight for justice, do pay more attention to the Ibans, Bidayuhs and Orang Ulus, like See Chee How has been doing all these years.

"We know that change would not occur without the cooperation of all races, and it is important to remember this, that is, if you want change, you have to have the support of all the races," he said.

He said Pakatan is now preparing for the next parliamentary elections and that the issues to be raised might be different from those raised at the Sarawak state elections.

NONE"We know that Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud (left) had stated that he would retire, and I am sure he would be still the chief minister until the next parliamentary election, and I think that, he will not be the general to lead in the parliamentary election, but Prime Minister Najib Razak. Therefore, the issues will not be the same.

"If we were to concentrate on our efforts attacking Taib Mahmud in the parliamentary elections, we might face problems.

"I do feel that it is time for us to focus on the next parliamentary polls and we should see that it will not be what Najib has been professing on 1Malaysia."

Lee said in Najib's 1Malaysia, it is true that the people come first when it comes to petrol hikes, inflation, cut in wages for the workers and cut on subsidies for petrol.

"But when it comes to giving licences, it is cronies first, no more people first," he said.

Under Najib, he said there are two sets of laws, one for the Opposition and the other for the BN.

"So, let us not be deceived by Najib's 1Malaysia slogan," he added.