DAP's campaign in its only Iban-majority seat has been crippled by hostility from the Iban longhouses and unusual restrictions imposed by the police.

For example, the police forced the party to relocate its first open-air ceramah at Simanggang last night to a restaurant that could only accommodate 500.

NONE The ceramah f eaturing Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi (left) and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary Zairil Khir Johari, was supposed to be held in front of DAP's operations centre located at the Sri Aman town center. However, police refused to grant the permit.

"The police told us that an open-air ceramah is not allowed," Ooi told Malaysiakini .

Although the party argued that open-air ceramah at other constituencies such as Kuching and Miri were not restricted, the police ignored their pleas, said Ooi.

"It surely dampens our outreach programme to the Iban community who stay around the town. People may think it is a closed-door function that is only exclusive to the Chinese.

"When our candidate Leon Donald rushed to the police station, he was not entertained by the OCPD. We are very disappointed with the police's double standards," he added.

NONE Leon (right) is vying to wrest Simanggang, a semi-rural Iban seat that encompasses Sri Aman town, from SUPP's three-term incumbent Francis Harden who is also assistant land development minister.

Harden is known as a popular leader among Simanggang voters, especially within the Iban community.

Earlier in the afternoon, Lim's scheduled visit to longhouses at Simanggang was also cancelled due to another police obstacle.

According to a DAP campaigner, the police learnt about Lim's schedule and requested the party to apply for a permit, that was not required for DAP's previous visits to the longhouses.

One of the conditions was to get prior consent from the tuai rumah of the longhouse that the party intended to visit.

NONE However the tuai rumah of Guntong Ulu, Daniel Lawi had written to DAP, expressing his disapproval of the visit (left) .

"As the community leader of the longhouse in Guntong Ulu, I completely disagree that DAP or any members of DAP visit and campaign in my longhouse," reads the letter.

"Please be informed that all residents under my supervision are staunch supporters of the BN government."

The tuai rumah is the head of a longhouse who is nominated on BN representatives' recommendations, and appointed by the state government. He enjoys a monthly allowance of RM850.

'BN directive'

During previous visits to longhouse, the DAP also faced hostility from certain pro-BN tuai rumah, claimed Ooi.

"One of them refused to meet us and the other one just walked out when we met him," he said, adding that he was told that the tuai rumah were forced to comply with BN's instruction to snub the opposition.

NONE DAP candidate for Bawang Assan, Alice Lau (left) , faced similiar difficulties when campaigning in a native area.

During her visit to four Iban longhouses and two Melanau villagers, only one of them welcomed her and provided drinking water.

According to Gerusan Jawan, a tuai rumah who guided Lau into the Iban area, all the tuai rumah and ketua kampung in the area had been instructed not to entertain the opposition.

Lau also claimed that some villagers had demanded money from her.

"They were recording my speech when I talked to them. They want me to promise that I will build a church for them. In another village, the villagers asked me for money," she said.

According to Wong Chin Huat of election watchdog Bersih 2.0, obstructing candidates from campaigning is not an offence under election law.

"This shows that our election law is outdated. It should be overhauled to prohibit people from obstructing campaigning," said Wong, adding that there were cases during the Sarawak election where petrol vendors declined to sell fuel to the opposition, hampering the latter mobility and thus limiting the effectiveness of their campaign reach..

Wong, an academician-cum-activist, was himself banned by the chief minister's office from entering Sarawak last Friday.