Sarawak DAP chairperson Wong Ho Leng has taken state Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu to task over his comments regarding the upcoming visit by ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

He said before Jabu, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president, brands visiting opposition leaders as 'political tourists attending a longhouse picnic', he should have considered the 'political tourists from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN)' coalition from the peninsular.

"When Anwar comes, he is going to spend one or two days in Sarawak unlike some federal BN leaders who touch down at the airport, go into the VIP room, hold a press conference and leave again," he added.

Wong said he was not defending Anwar but if a senior state minister like Jabu can describe him as a political tourist, then the latter is a clown.

Anwar, who is also the advisor for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), is visiting the state to rally the opposition ahead of the state election.

Upon arrival, he is expected to have a huge gathering at an Iban longhouse in Pantu, Sri Aman division.

On Jabu's comment that although the Ibans will give Anwar and his entourage a grand welcome, they will still vote for the BN, Wong said: "This would not happen if the elections is fair and clean. It's all due to money politics".

Huge crowd expected

Meanwhile, the Aping Dadak longhouse reception committee chairperson Jacob Emang told malaysiakini that he expected a huge crowd to attend the gathering.

"We have people coming forward to donate canvases just in case it rains," he added.

Apart from Anwar, others expected to speak at the gathering are former Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president Daniel Tajem, Sarawak National Party (Snap) president Edwin Dundang and village headman Christopher Ambu.

In a related development, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief and Bukit Begunan state assemblyperson Mong Dagang was quoted in the Sarawak Tribune today as saying that opposition parties should keep away from the Dayak majority areas in Sri Aman.

He said the opposition should not take advantage of Dayak voters and try to get them involved in what he described as 'unproductive politics'.

Mong's original state constituency has been dissected to create a new state constituency Balai Ringin which includes those areas such as Pantu.

Due to numerous problems on the ground and complaints against the incumbent, the opposition claim they stand a good chance of winning the Balai Ringin seat as well as Bukit Begunan.