DAP: BN’s ’25 seats in the bag claim’ amusing

Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen says BN is making those claims because it is spooked by the opposition's strong showing in the rural areas.

KUCHING: Barisan Nasional leaders’ claim that 25 rural parliamentary seats in Sarawak are already in the ‘bag’ has amused Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen.

Sarawak has 31 seats and out of this figure, six are urban seats allocated to Sarawak United People’s Party.

The latest BN leader to express confidence in the 13th general election is James Masing, president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak who also claimed that 25 seats are already in the ‘BN bag’.

Chong said that there are two ways to interpret BN’s constant reminders to the public about getting 25 parliamentary seats for the general election.

“To me, it means that the component parties have no confidence in SUPP. Secondly, BN leaders are scared because the 25 non-SUPP seats are also shaky.

“When a person feels insecure or lacks confidence, he will keep on boosting his confidence level,” said Chong, the MP for Bandar Kuching and Kota Sentosa assemblyman.

“There are two interpretations. Either way, the opposition is making inroads into the rural areas and is establishing a firm foothold in Sarawak’s political landscape.

“The 13th general election is going to be the most vital battle in the history of Malaysian politics,” he said.

Encouraging response from Bumiputera voters

The DAP has announced that it will contest more than 10 seats, half of these with Bumiputera candidates. Its partner PKR will also contest more than 10 seats, mostly in rural areas.

PAS, another partner in the Pakatan coalition will go for about five seats. It is understood that the non-Chinese seats DAP is eyeing include Serian, Mas Gading, Mambong and Sri Aman.

DAP’s confidence stems from the fact it did well in last year’s state elections, when it received encouraging response from Bumiputera voters.

In some rural constituencies, DAP candidates received more than 30% of the Bumiputera voters.

Political observers say shaky seats include Baram, Mas Gading, Saratok and Bintulu which were given to Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, and Hulu Rajang and Lubok Antu allocated to PRS, and Limbang (PBB).

The four SPDP seats are shaky because of the split in the party after five of its elected representatives were expelled.

As for Hulu Rajang, there is an intense rivalry for the seat between incumbent Billy Abit Joo and Masing’s private secretary Wilson Ugak Kumbong.