KUCHING: DAP Sarawak is eyeing Balai Ringin as one of the rural seats it wants to contest in the next state election.
This follows plans to set up the DAP Balai Ringin branch, making it the fifth Dayak-majority branch for the party.
DAP Sarawak secretary Chong Chieng Jen yesterday received application forms from 630 individuals, including 10 who claimed to be Tuai Rumah (longhouse chiefs), at the party headquarters here.
Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, revealed that his party now wished to contest in the predominantly-Iban Balai Ringin.
DAP now has five Dayak-majority branches, the others being Sri Aman, Meradong Scheme B, Tamin and Serian.
“It has always been the DAP’s effort to be a multi-racial party, and we are getting there (towards achieving that direction),” he said.
Also present yesterday were Sri Aman DAP chairman Leon Jimat Donald and DAP Balai Ringin protem chairman Augustine Terban Ngchangak.
Balai Ringin is currently represented by Snowdan Lawan, who is currently the deputy secretary general of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), which is a Barisan Nasional component party.
In the last state election, Snowdan won in a three-cornered fight.
He garnered 3,075 votes while Ibi Uding of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) got 1,556 and Cobbold John Lusoi (IND) 742.
Balai Ringin is one of the nine new seats introduced in the 2006 election.
DAP had said last year that it wanted to contest in 20 to 25 seats, including Dayak-majority and mixed seats, in the state election which is due within a year’s time.
It even expressed its wish to contest in either Kedup, Tebedu or Tarat – three Bidayuh majority seats – and this had irked Bidayuh leaders from its fellow opposition member PKR.