The DAP will move beyond its usual grazing grounds in the urban areas of Sarawak to expand its support base among the state's indigenous communities, party ecretary-general Lim Guan Eng says.

At a voter appreciation dinner in Miri yesterday, Lim said the expansion is part of the DAP's undertaking under a broader five-year plan of the Pakatan Rakyat to take over the state government.

NONE The DAP would would be soon start holding more programmes to engage directly with the rural Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Malay and other indigenous communities.

This would be done by adopting a model created by Kidurong state assemblyperson, Chiew Chiu Sing, who managed to secure 64 percent non-Chinese support in the April 16 state election.

"We will also be multiplying the recruitment of party members so that DAP can establish a wide support network," said Lim ( left ), who is also chief minister of Penang.

Lim has repeatedly stressed that the doubling of the DAP's seats in the Sarawak state legislative assembly - from six to 12 - could not have been achieved without the support of the indigenous

Among others, this includes the tightly-contested seats of Dudong and Batu Kawah. In all, DAP only lost three out of 15 seats it contested.

Urban-rural divide

DAP's strong showing in the election has sparked a chain reaction in Peninsular Malaysia, with the BN warning Chinese voters that they risked having no representation in the federal government if MCA was routed in the next general election.

However, DAP has been quick to point out that a racialist view of the Sarawak election results is premature, and claimed that election data showed that the there was a urban-rural divide in terms of voter sentiments.

NONE The DAP has also claimed that the crux of its campaign - that long-serving Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud ( right ), who is dogged by allegations of corruption, must step down - was a key factor in its victories.

"There is no racial divide in the support for Pakatan Rakyat and the DAP. BN wants to cover up (its weaknesses) and distract attention from the real message of the voters - which is to end Taib's rule and promote good governance.

"If there is a divide, it is an urban-rural divide that Pakatan and DAP have to bridge if there is to be a change of government in Sarawak," Lim said.

'Taib feeling the heat'

Pakatan was serious in taking over the state government and had established the first shadow cabinet in the state's history to provide a check-and-balance on all ministerial portfolios.

Despite failing to deny BN its two-thirds majority in the election, Lim said, Pakatan was nearing its goal based on the the decline in BN's popular vote from 63 percent in 2006 to 55 percent.

"Unfortunately, the injustice in constituency delineation leaves the opposition at a disadvantage. Despite BN winning only 55 per cent of the popular vote, it could still win 77 percent of the seats.

"The nervousness of Taib at this reduced victory can be seen when he had to get himself sworn in as chief minister close to midnight, immediately after the election results were announced.

"Why get sworn in such a great haste, on a dark and stormy night and not wait a few days later to do it properly in broad daylight?" Lim asked.

A total of 510 tables were laid out - and filled - at the dinner held at a golf and country club.