Election mood descends on Sarawak, all eyes on Taib

Baru Bian

Malaysia Chronicle

Election talk and by as early as in October/November this year is all over Sarawak, which has until July 2011 at the latest to hold its 10th state election.

“Yes, the signs have grown very hot of late. Everywhere you go, people are talking about and it does look very soon - possibly by November,” Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian told Malaysia Chronicle.

The latest ‘evidence’ came from Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, who on Saturday confirmed that he was willing to lead the state Barisan Nasional and government for another term.

The federal government in Kuala Lumpur is believed to have advised him to step down in favor of younger blood, but the wily and very powerful 74-year old has managed to persuade the state BN to support his continuation.

Taib made his triumphant announcement to an unusually large crowd of over 7,000 people comprising state Cabinet ministers, BN supporters and members of non-governmental organizations. It immediately sparked a flurry of expectations that his next announcement would be the dissolution of the state assembly to pave way for elections.

“Decks cleared for Sarawak general elections. Should be announced anytime now,” DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said on his Twitter.

An upset is possible

Caricature of Taib - unpopular but very wealthy

There are now 71-seats in the Sarawak state assembly, of which BN holds 62, Pakatan Rakyat 8 and independent Ngemah assemblyman Gabriel Adit Demong one.

Within the opposition, DAP has the lion's share of six urban, Chinese-majority seats, while PKR and Sarawak National Party (SNAP) have one each.

According to Baru, the seat allocations amongst the four Pakatan parties – PKR, DAP, PAS and SNAP – are nearly finalized.

“Whenever it is going to be held, this year of after Chinese New Year 2011, we are as ready as we will ever be. The mood is with us and despite our limited funds, we are moving throughout the state and everywhere we go, the people tell us to save them, to save Sarawak,” Baru said.