BN sees DAP foray into rural areas as futile attempt

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Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: A Barisan Nasional (BN) backbencher yesterday claimed Sarawak  Bumiputeras, particularly those residing in rural areas, would reject the penisula-based Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) brand of politics.

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “DAP is a chauvinist and racialist party and in Sarawak it would only advocate and look after the interest of just one ethnic group.”

“This party (DAP) which practices divisional and one-race politic will not be accepted by the multi-racial ethnic Bumiputeras of Sarawak,” he said when asked to comment on State DAP’s plan to go rural.

Karim is also State BN Backbenchers’ Club chairman as well as chief political secretary to the Chief Minister.

On Saturday, state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen announced that the party is eyeing Mambong, Mas Gading, Serian and Sri Aman – parliamentary seats which DAP are expected to contest in during the next general polls.

These are on top of the Chinese-majority seats which the Pakatan Rakyat coalition had already allocated to them. Currently, state DAP held Sibu and Bandar Kuching.

Apart from the parliamentary seats, Chong also announced that DAP is interested in eight more state seats namely Opar, Tasik Biru, Tupong, Satok, Bengoh, Tarat, Kedup and Balai Ringin on top of the current 15 allocated to the party.

These new seats are either urban or rural ones which are very close to towns.

What prompted DAP to make such proposal is because PKR lost in these seats during the just concluded state election, said Chong who is Bandar Kuching MP as well as Kota Sentosa assemblyman.

Moreover, Chong said, PKR state chief Baru Bian had conceded that

they suffered financial constraint especially when PKR stretched too much by fielding 49 candidates but winning only three seats namely, Ba  Kelalan, Krian and Batu Lintang.

Yesterday Karim also mentioned that he did not believe DAP is just as strong as it is in the

urban.

He blamed DAP’s fiery speeches rather than substantive matters, for the DAP to influence the mind and heart of the urban people.

“DAP won some seats in the just concluded election because of the fiery rhetoric speeches of imported speakers

who played into the heart of young urban voters at various rallies held during the campaigning period,” he explained.