COMMENT: With the extra 11 states now officially approved by Parliament and gazetted in Sarawak, Chief Minister Adenan Satem is expected to call for polls very soon. It is widely speculated that election will be held in March.
However, Adenan can still spring a surprise and call for snap polls right after the on-going eight-day State Legislative Assembly session – as early as January!
The backbone of the state BN party, PBB, is ready and it will add on at least five more seats to its current 35, and maintain its dominant partner status with 40 seats (just 2 short of a simple majority of 42, in an expanded state assembly of 82 seats).
Its secretary general Dr Stephen Rundi said on Dec 7 that they have all the confirmed candidates lined up, and are only waiting for the party chief Adenan to make the announcement at the right time.
There will apparently be 10 new faces from the party.
On Dec 6, PKR chief Baru Bian had named 15 of its party candidates, with another 30 waiting on the sidelines for other seats, probably contentious seats which are sought by DAP, PAS or Parti Harapan.
During the last state polls in 2011, the support from the Chinese voters for BN candidates had very drastically plunged to an all-time low of only 24.6 per cent, from a high of 40.4 per cent obtained in the 2006 polls.
Voter support for the BN was extremely high among the Malay/Melanau with 81.7 per cent (up from 2006’s 77.1 per cent); and from the Dayaks at 61.2 per cent (although a slight decrease from 2006’s 67.5 per cent.)
The reasons for the latter could be because of the issues concerning NCR (Native Custodial Land) rights and the Bible.
In the 20 months since Adenan took office at the end of Feb 2014, one could sense a palpable change in attitude, especially from the Chinese, and to a lesser extent the Dayaks, towards the Chief Minister.
Adenan had been able to project an image of being approachable, reasonable, and saying and doing the sort of things that appealed very much to both these communities.
They in turn have reacted most favourably on social media, in reports in the mainstream media, and most of all in coffee shops.
The bogeyman fear of the last chief minister, Taib Mahmud, who had long overstayed his 31 years in office, was at a turning point. It now appears possible that a change is in the air – in the nature, character and interest of the present BN government under Adenan and that could be a change for the better.
However in recent days, this previously held perception has started to change, quite subtly.
Firstly, the Chinese UEC exams issue, which Adenan had approved and since has met with resistance at every corner; secondly the proclamation by Adenan on the official use of English as a second language – where once again has not been met with strong support from his own party, and is being questioned, and shot down by Malayan-based BN parties.
Thirdly, and most telling of all, on Dec 6, PKR national vice-president Nurul Izzah was barred from entering Sarawak in a repeat of what Taib had used to do during his days in power – preventing opposition leaders from entering the country, a practice long-detested by the voting public.
With this single act, the Chinese and Dayaks are asking, once again – would a vote for Adenan really mean a vote for real change or would it just be the same old, same old, once again?
The doubts are beginning to set in.-The Ant Daily
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