S'WAK POLLS Even though it is her first time contesting, DAP candidate for Pakan, Rinda Juliza Alexander, is ready to take on the formidable William Mawan, its elected representative there for the last 25 years.

Mawan is Sarawak People's Energy Party (Teras) president and the direct BN candidate.

Also contesting in Pakan is independent candidate Dr Jawie Jenggot.

The former nurse said she was not afraid of William, who is also the MP for Saratok. What was most important to her was winning over the hearts of the Pakan residents, the majority of whom are Iban.

"What I can do is to be the voice of the people in the state assembly," Rinda said when met by Malaysiakini.

Rinda, 31, was chosen as the candidate for the DAP in Pakan. This is the first time the party is contesting this seat.

Pakan - a village about of 153 kilometres square feet in area - has a population of around 32,300, with most of its residents working on farms.

A strong competition

The DAP's Pakan state seat campaign director, Howard Lee, said Rinda would be facing strong competition, as William is already so well known in that area.

Lee, who is also the state assemblyperson for Pasir Panji, Perak, said even though the BN might face some split votes following their internal political strife in Pakan, DAP still needed to work really hard to reduce William's majority.

Asked about the reaction of the Dayak towards the DAP, as it was the first time the party is contesting in Pakan, Lee said it was very positive.

Even though they had been warned that the 37 longhouses in that area might not welcome them, it did not happen.

Instead, their campaign task force was received very warmly by the residents of the longhouses, he disclosed.

"We were warned before this that we might not be let into some longhouses, because the people there are strong BN supporters. But the opposite happened.

"Not only did they let us in, but there were some who even invited us to hang up our posters and banners.

"The support is really encouraging and it is something we have taken note of. Winning or losing is not the main point here," Lee asserted.