Dr Rundi: Don’t insult the intelligence of rural folk

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Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: The DAP has been told not to insult rural folk’s intelligence by expecting to win their support without walking the talk.

State Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi opined on Sunday that the urban-based opposition party should abandon the idea of going rural.

“If they (DAP) ever dream of getting support from rural Sarawakians, but are not doing something that can support rural Sarawakians and walk the talk as what BN has had been doing, better forget it,” Dr Rundi, who is Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications), told The Borneo Post.

He was commenting on state DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen’s announcement on Saturday that his party would launch nine more ‘Impian Sarawak’ projects in the first quarter of this year.

Chong said this was to ensure that the BN would not take the votes of rural Sarawakians for granted, and play its role as the government of the day to improve basic infrastructure that was lacking in these areas.

Dr Rundi said he was puzzled by DAP’s sudden concern for rural folks.

“If it is with political motives, we are not that blind just to succumb to their tricks. Don’t insult our intelligence,” he said.

Meanwhile, PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it was DAP’s prerogative whether to stay urban or go rural.

He said he was happy to see the opposition going rural as at least they could understand and see how difficult it was to develop a vast state like Sarawak.

“Whether they can get accepted or not by the rural folk has yet to be seen. But rural folk are politically matured now.

“They don’t just ‘buy’ or accept cheap goodies and give support without due consideration. Rural folks know who has been with them all through these years,” Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman, said.

“Their going into rural areas is merely ‘window dressing’ to show that they care for the Bumis, to show that they care for the rural folk, when in actual fact that is their least concern.”