The Sarawak DAP is hoping to overcome the money factor with sheer hard work and faith in its bid to win the hearts of the Dayak and Melanau voters in the Sibu parliamentary by-election on May 16.

NONE Their candidate and state chief Wong Ho Leng, 50, ( left ) acknowledged the imposing girth of the Barisan Nasional's election coffers as their biggest obstacle in the race.

He said the Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat are hoping to boost Dayak and Melanau support by between 15 and 20 percent, but admitted that it's going to be a tough sell.

"Of course, we try to target as high as possible ... but we are realistic. It is crucial for us to add (at least) another 15 to 20 percent (to win)."

In the last General Election in 2008, Wong only managed to secure less than 30 per cent of the Dayak votes and around 20 per cent of the Melanau votes in his loss to the late Robert Lau Hoi Chiew, who died of liver cancer in April at the age of 66.

"Money politics is very hard to overcome. Its like blood in the body," he said, referring to the BN's alleged campaign strategy of dangling instant cash rewards to Dayak and Melanau voters at every election.

Speaking to Malaysiakini in an interview yesterday morning, Wong admitted that DAP had not given enough attention to the Dayak and Melanau areas in previous elections.

‘ Educating voters slow process'

He said educating voters on their rights is a "slow, and very painful" process. He is however optimistic of their progress, since they had launched their state election campaign machinery a good nine months earlier in anticipation of the impending state elections, due next year at the latest.

"The response from the Ibans and Melanaus is very good when I visit their longhouses. For the first time my cheek and hands have been kissed by them. This time around I will try to cover all the longhouses," he said.

He also said the additional help from component parties of the Pakatan like PKR and PAS will be a boost.

When campaigning officially starts on Saturday, Wong's focus for the indigenous communities will be bread and butter issues.

These communities are plagued by poverty, limited access to basic utilities such as potable water and electricity, and a lack of job opportunities in Sibu.

‘BN has not delivered'

He said the Iban in Penansu - 67 percent of whom voted for Barisan - still lack water supply. "They are (still relying on) genuine sky juice," he said.

bn supreme council mt meeting sapp sabah issue 190608 taib mahmud He blames this on the Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud ( right ) and his ‘development politics' idea, which has only benefitted a few, but neglected communities like the Iban.

"I will speak for the plight of these people in Parliament (if elected)," he resolved.

This is Wong's fourth contest for the Rajang river town seat, having lost the previous three attempts including at the 2008 General Election.

A local Sibuan born in a farmhouse in Bukit Igu, which is located on the west bank of the Rajang, Wong completed his basic education in Sibu before pursuing law and economics in an Australian university.

The practicing lawyer joined the DAP in 1986 and was immediately mandated to contest in Miri that year. He ultimately lost his maiden contest to Peter Chin of SUPP.

Undaunted, he eventually secured the Bukit Assek state seat in the 1996 state election, and again two years ago after losing it in 2001.