SIBU: Several state BN leaders blasted Sarawak DAP chairman for criticising Election Commission (EC) as a tool of Barisan Nasional (BN), saying the opposition had no sincerity in serving rural folk.
Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen had claimed the delineation exercise showed that EC was serving only BN by helping the ruling coalition to consolidate its position and power base.
Describing EC’s action as a blatant disregard for the fundamental principle of fairness, Chong said the EC might as well apply to join BN.
In retaliation, state BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said this showed DAP had no regard for the underprivileged / minority groups.
“DAP has no sincerity to serve the rural people and the ‘Go Rural Drive/Impian Sarawak’ is merely political gimmick to capture Sarawak,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
“To DAP, rural people are the hindrance to their ambitions and trying to mislead them to be tools for their gain and I’m very sure they (rural people) will be neglected once they are in power.
“DAP will always blame the authority and any party that does not go according to their whims and fancies; and disregards social justice,” added Dr Rundi, who is Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) and Kemena assemblyman.
The EC had announced it would make known its initial delineation proposal for 11 new state constituencies — Batu Kitang, Stakan, Serembu, Triboh, Gedong, Kabong, Tellian, Selirik, Murum, Samalaju and Long Lama.
The proposal will affect 12 parliamentary constituencies, namely Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Kota Samarahan, Serian, Batang Sadong, Saratok, Mukah, Kapit, Hulu Rajang, Bintulu, Baram and Mambong.
Meanwhile, PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Chong should make an effort to study in detail the locations of the new constituencies before saying that EC was a tool of BN.
Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman, added that Chong’s latest statement was merely to cover up the embarrassment and mistake he and DAP made much earlier that the delineation exercise was to accommodate the ‘dissenters’ from some state BN parties.
“Studying the 11 proposed new seats, we can see that they cover all regions of Sarawak – from urban to semi-urban to rural.
“They also are sited in areas of different ethnic races, making a likelihood that YBs to be elected from the new seats would likely be representing Sarawak’s different ethnic races.”
Abdul Karim opined that EC had done a splendid job in coming up with the proposal, which would please all Sarawakians and not just a single race – one that DAP is seen to be representing.
On Chong’s claim that the proposed delineation had defied the basic principle of one-person-one-vote, Abdul Karim said there was not one electoral system that was perfect.
“We have adopted since independence the Westminster System and electoral based on constituency, where ‘rural bias’ is an accepted norm and not the ‘one-person-one-vote’.
“DAP has won its present seats using this system and there is no point barking at the system. That will only make them look like fools.”
Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee, on the other hand, noted that the proposed creation of new seats would bring about more development to rural areas.
“Previously, the area might be too big or a bit too much for one person (people’s representative) to handle. Perhaps, the funds might not be enough for one constituency.
“If more new constituencies are created, it means more funds to the areas. This shows the seriousness of bringing about more development to rural areas,” said the PBB Nangka chairman. -TheBorneoPost
No comments:
Post a Comment