DAP, encouraged by the success of its Impian Sarawak project, is sending volunteers to bring the basic needs of water and electricity to rural Sabahans.

The party has garnered two batches - 10-12 each group - to be sent on short missions into interior Sabah, the first by the peninsula-based Malaysian political party.

NONE They will help build a micro-hydroelectric dam, a piped-water system and bridges for Kampung Samparita Laut in Kota Marudu, a three-hour drive away from Kota Kinabalu.

"We should win the hearts of Sabahans by proving our sincerity and commitment to the rural villages and demonstrating by deeds that we will not forsake their rights and needs," Lim Kit Siang, DAP parlimentary leader told reporters at the party's HQ in KL.

Kota Marudu is under the watch of the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Maximus Ongkili. He is also the deputy president of Party Bersatu Sabah.

Even though Ongkili won Kota Marudu with a majority of only 842 after garnering 15,168 votes in a four-cornered fight during the 13th general election, DAP denied that it was out to buy votes with this charity initiative.

“Votes are secondary at this point in time. We believe that votes will come if we do well (for the people of Sabah). We are less concerned about votes today and more concerned about actually delivering what we promised,” said DAP publicity director Tony Pua.

Pua said DAP was encouraged after its “fantastic” success in Sarawak last month. DAP has completed two projects and a third one was abandoned, after it prompted local BN representatives to compete and spring into action instead.

But the real measure of success came when Kampung Sait, the first village to be helped by DAP, made a small  RM500 contribution to the Impian Sarawak fund, Pua said.

“It is an endorsement that we are doing the right thing,” Pua said.

He added that since making a call for volunteers in September, it has a pool of 350-360 registered volunteers who were ready to go and help in the Borneo states. At least six more projects are planned over the next two months in Sarawak.

In Sabah,  DAP has also lined up several corporations who were prepared to sponsor their projects in the future.

Although it may or may not translate into votes, its Impian projects were designed to back the party’s urging to build a Malaysia for all Malaysians, veteran opposition leader Lim said. He cited a 2010 survey which showed that 43 percent of Sabahan households do not have access to clean or treated water while nearly 20 percent do not have access to electricity.

‘Not just a party that talks’

“Impian Sabah will show Sabahans and Malaysians throughout the country that the DAP is not just a party that talks, but is a party that will take all necessary actions to improve the livelihood of the people, especially the oppressed,” Lim said.

He noted that Pakatan Rakyat had failed in their aim to reap 33 parliamentary seats from Johor, Sabah and Sarawak in the last general election - the so-called Umno-BN ‘fixed deposit’ states. Pakatan won only 14 seats from these states, and only three seats in Sabah - Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Penampang.

While votes for Pakatan in Johor increased by 10.3 percent to reach 45 percent and for Sarawak, up 8.9 percent to 37.3 percent, the opposition coalition didn’t fare so well in Sabah. Votes were up a smaller 3.4 percent to reach 35.9 percent.

“Hence it is undeniable that Pakatan Rakyat must pull out all stops to increase electoral support in the state with 26 parliamentary seats (including Labuan),” Lim said.

The Sabah Impian project was initiated by Sabah DAP grassroots leaders and the projects were chosen by on-the-ground scouts. Kampung Samparita has a population of about 200 people, who were living in poverty despite being three hours drive away from Kota Kinabalu.

“Their usual drinking water looks like ‘Nescafe susu’. During rainy days, the colour becomes more like ‘Nescafe kurang susu’, as they will collect rainwater for drinking. With this project, we will be able to provide running water to the whole village,” said Sabah DAP chairperson Jimmy Wong.

The village has no toilets and it relies on a murky river for water. Without even a bridge, villagers also have to wade across the river to reach home and on rainy days, the water level can reach up to their waist, Wong said.