KUCHING: Sarawak BN secretary-general Dr Stephen Rundi Thursday (11 Sept) denied that about 600 BN members and supporters, including those from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), from Uma Apan in Belaga have joined the opposition.

Dr Rundi, who is also PBB secretary-general and Kemena assemblyma, said he had not received any report of BN members from the Orang Ulu settlement, located in the vicinity of the Bakun hydroelectric dam project, joining Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

"When we checked, there was actually no such allegation although there may be one or two fence sitters in the area," he told Bernama here.

It was reported that Uma Apan was one of the longhouses which were demolished after the villagers were served with eviction notices over land disputes.

With the scheduled completion of the Bakun project by 2011, the area has also been earmarked for oil palm plantations and other agro-based industries. (Bernama)