Sarawak DAP to `go rural’ in 2016 state election

(The Sun Daily) – Inspired by its electoral successes in the 2011 state and this month’s parliamentary elections, Sarawak DAP is now eyeing the rural seats, particularly the Dayak-majority areas.

“A rural drive committee, which I am asked to lead, will sit down this Tuesday to chart down and plan what we need to do,” Sarawak DAP Dayak Consultative Committee chairman Dr John Brian Anthony said today.

He said the drive committee will identify the seats which the party may contest in the 2016 state election.

He said the “go rural” is in line with the party’s objective to penetrate the rural areas, instead of just concentrating in the urban and Chinese-dominated constituencies for support.

Brian was assigned to lead the rural drive at the party’s state committee meeting here yesterday.

In the 2011 state election, the party won 12 urban seats, while in the recent parliamentary election, it won five urban seats.

After the 2011 state election, the Sarawak DAP proposed to merge with the now defunct Sarawak National Party (SNAP) as a political vehicle to penetrate the rural areas. The proposal, however, was rejected by the SNAP’s supreme council.

Meanwhile, Sarawak DAP chairman explained that the party is embarking on the rural drive to prepare for the next state election. He said it is time for the party to spread its influence in the rural areas, especially the Dayak majority seats.

Wong, who is also the State Assemblyman for Bukit Assek, said that the party needs to reach out to the rural areas where he believes that it will be accepted.

On the parliamentary election, Wong said Pakatan Rakyat (PR), comprising the DAP, PKR and PAS, could have won more seats had the election been fair.

“Money politics was rampant, especially in the rural areas,” he alleged.

Wong also said that the Sarawak DAP will hold its annual convention on June 9 in Sibu to elect new office bearers.