DAP lays down plan for Malayan agenda in Sabah

With eye on next election, Kit Siang tells state assemblymen, MPs to target 13 state seats

KUALA LUMPUR — The opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) kicked off its campaign yesterday to take over Sabah from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the next general election.

It announced an “adoption programme” where its elected representatives will target 13 state seats over the next five years.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, who listed out the targeted seats during his visit to the state yesterday, said the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition should now focus on winning both the federal government and the Sabah state government after its promising victories in the last election.

The PR includes the DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS).

“My message to DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders, members and supporters is that there is no time for rest as we must work immediately to achieve what we failed in GE13 as well as to ensure that we build a solid foundation to also win the Sabah state government in GE14,” he said, referring to the next general election.

He explained that more than one elected representative from the DAP, both from Sabah or elsewhere, can be appointed to service each of the 13 constituencies.

“Sabah DAP will immediately focus on 13 areas to help the PR achieve the two-fold objectives for the GE14 — namely Elopura, Karamunting, Tanjong Papat, Tanjong Aru, Karanaan, Paginatan, Tanjong Kapor, Melalap, Kemabong, Liaiwan, Sook, Tambunan and Merotai.

“To help in the DAP and PR campaign in Sabah for the GE14, DAP Members of Parliament (MPs) and state assemblymen, whether in or out of Sabah, will be encouraged to ‘adopt’ these targeted 13 Sabah constituencies,” the Gelang Patah MP said.

This year’s election saw the BN return to power in Sabah with a comfortable two-third majority. However, the PR recorded historic wins in the state, increasing its seat numbers to a comfortable 11 state seats in the 60-seat state legislative assembly and three Parliament seats.

Out of the 11 state seats, the DAP won four and the PKR won seven, while the DAP won two Parliament seats and the PKR won one. In the 2008 elections, the opposition only scored one state and one Parliament seat in Sabah, both won by the DAP.

Mr Lim said that although the PR did not achieve its original target of winning at least one third of the 26 parliamentary seats in Sabah, the state could no longer be considered a BN “fixed deposit”.

He said the same of Sarawak and Johor, another two states that were also considered BN fortresses, adding that the contest to topple the ruling pact in the next general election is now “fully out in the open arena”.

The Sabah DAP state liaison committee and MP Teresa Kok, who has been appointed as coordinator for Sabah and Sarawak, will soon work out the details of the adoption programme, Mr Lim said, adding that he will target the Karanaan state constituency.

Separately, Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday said the federal government will allocate RM30 million (S$12.2 million) to continue the native customary rights land perimeter survey in Sarawak next year, Bernama news agency reported.

He said the government had earlier allocated RM60 million for the land survey in the state to determine ownership of the land. The survey was among the pledges in the BN manifesto in Sarawak for the general election.

Mr Najib said the solid support shown by the indigenous and rural communities of Sarawak in GE13 would not go unrecognised by the BN government. In appreciation of their support, he said he will appoint more MPs from Sarawak to the federal cabinet.

Agencies