by Joseph Tawie| April 15, 2012
Free Malaysia Today
Twelve windscreens of cars belonging to DAP members were smashed in Mas Gading constituency whilst the owners were attending a campaign dinner.
BAU: Sarawak DAP’s launch last night of its campaign to wrest the Mas Gading parliamentary seat, which is a Bidayuh-majority constituency, was marred by a group of motorcyclists who smashed the windscreens of 12 cars while the owners were attending a party dinner at Kampung Sg. Pinang.
Local and national DAP leaders were addressing more than 1,000 people at the dinner when a group of motor cyclists were seen smashing the windscreens of the cars which were parked quite a distance from the venue.
Commenting on the incident, visibly upset Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said: “Obviously it was a sabotage work by BN members or their supporters.
“Such behaviour only goes to show they are afraid of us. Only cowards do that sort of thing; only someone who is in fear will do a dirty tactic trying to scare the people,” he said.
Chong added that neither the car owners nor the crowd were perturbed by the attacks, as they had come to terms with such ‘scare tactics’ by the ruling regime.
“The people are not scared, and from their response when we made the announcement, no body rushed out to check their cars. This is something like crisis management.
“I was afraid that the people would start to rush out and look at their cars. The response from the people was very calm and the scare tactic of BN does not have any intended effect of what they want,” said Chong, who is the MP for Bandar Kuching and Kota Sentosa assemblyman.
“To us in DAP, it is a form of encouragement as it means that DAP has an impact. Otherwise, if it has no impact, nobody will bother to disturb our function,” Chong added.
Party to subsidise cost
He said that one of DAP supporters, who is in the car accessories business had offered to replace the windscreens of affected owners for a special rate.
Chong said, DAP on its part would meet half of the costs of the smashed windscreens.
Mordi Bimol, who is the potential DAP candidate for Mas Gading, said that he would not be cowed by this dirty tactic.
“I will organise more dinners. In fact there would be another dinner at Kpg Paun, Sematan on Sunday night.
“Every day I visit the various villages in the constituency. The response is good, and it is a good sign.
“The people who smashed the windscreens of the cars are scared of us, and at least they realise our presence here,” Bimol added.
Earlier in his speech, Bimol urged people to vote for change saying the the BN government had failed to look after the people’s interest.
“They were more concerned in looking after their own interests and in enriching themselves by getting timber licences, involving themselves in government contracts and taking away native customary rights land from you.
“They never raised issues that affect the people in the State Assembly; in fact some even slept in the state assembly,” he said.
DAP targets 12 seats
He said that a large number of the about 100 villages in the Mas Gading constituency have no tar-sealed roads, no clean water supply and no electricity.
“How can the BN representatives speak on your behalf when they consider themselves as the ‘towkay’ (boss) and they will not allow you to fight the boss (jangan lawan towkay).
“They have forgotten about you who have voted for them. Before the election, they promised to give the people this and that and they also promised various projects.
“But after the election, they regarded themselves as your masters and treated the voters as their servants.
“Not only that, they took away your land.
“We need to change and I beg all of you to support me, and support DAP. Today I apply for a job from you all. Give me a chance to work for you,” Bimol said.
Mas Gading has about 19,472 voters (according to the 2011 electoral rolls), more than 80% of them are Bidayuh voters.
The incumbent is Tiki Lafe who is now partyless after being expelled from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.
It is one of the Dayak seats that DAP is eyeing in the coming election. Another confirmed Dayak seat is Serian.
Other seats like Mambong and Sri Aman are still under discussions with its partner PKR.
DAP is expected to contest between 10 and 12 seats in the coming election.