DAP’S moves expected — Dr Rundi

KUCHING: The Barisan Nasional ( BN) will work extra hard to ensure that the DAP’s foray into suburban and rural areas fails.

State BN secretary- general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said the ruling coalition was aware that the DAP’s strategy formed part of Pakatan Rakyat’s grand plan to capture Sarawak in the 11th state election, but their (DAP) initiative only served to motivate the BN to do its best to thwart their effort in the interest of the people.

“Our observation is that they (DAP) are trying to penetrate into suburban areas, and eventually penetrating rural areas to realise their dream (of capturing the state).

“It has always been in their pipeline, so no surprise there,” said Dr Rundi, who is also PBB secretary- general and Kemena assemblyman, when contacted yesterday.

He was commenting on state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen’s statement on Tuesday that the party wanted to enhance its presence in places such as Tasik Biru, Tupong, Tarat and Satok.

Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Bandar Kuching MP, said the immediate strategies of the DAP was to set up new service centres in the said areas to propagate its presence.

DAP made huge strides in the 10th state election in April 2011 by winning 12 seats - Padungan,

Our observation is that they (DAP) are trying to penetrate into suburban areas, and eventually penetrating rural areas to realise their dream (of capturing the state). Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi, State BN secretarygeneral

Pending, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kawah, Repok, Meradong, Bukit Assek, Dudong, Pelawan, Kidurong, Piasau and Pujut.

In the recently- concluded 13th general election, the party not only managed to retain Bandar Kuching and Sibu but also wrest Stampin, Lanang, Miri and Sarikei from the BN.

In total, the opposition has 17 of the 71 seats in the State Legislative Assembly. Besides DAP’s 12, PKR has three and Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) two.

Meanwhile, SPDP deputy secretary-general Paul Igai agreed that DAP had started strategising following the unprecedented urban and suburban tsunami suffered by the BN in the May 5 polls.

“The opposition party is taking advantage of the fresh sentiment demonstrated by urban and suburban voters.”

As such, he opined, SPDP and other BN component parties must analyse the cause of the vote swing.

“We have to address the cause of this tsunami,” said Paul.