KUCHING, April 14 — A closer-than-expected Sarawak election is costing the Barisan Nasional (BN) more than RM500 million in the run up to polling this Saturday, say ruling coalition officials.
While it is customary for voters to receive cash donations during by-elections and elections, BN officials say that in this tight campaign voters are getting anything between RM500 and RM1,000.
There are 979,796 voters in Sarawak but not everyone is benefiting from the government largesse to guarantee BN keeps the majority of the 71 state seats in the legislature.
Sarawak DAP chief Wong Ho Leng told The Malaysian Insider that the onslaught had already begun during the campaign kick-off with allowances of RM300 offered for each vote.
The incumbent for Bukit Assek said voters in each of the 15 DAP-contested seat had been given RM100 each and promised a further RM200 after polling day on Saturday.
“They (BN) can deny it until the cows come home but it is true. It is here (in Kuching) and in Sibu as well, and every constituency contested by the DAP.
“As long as you provide them a photocopied MyKad to prove that you are a registered voter, you will get it.
“This is our only worry now.... how money politics will play out,” he said.
The Malaysian Insider understands that funds are being used in marginal seats where Pakatan Rakyat (PR) candidates as putting up a strong fight.
Opposition party sources are also concerned over rumours that BN’s final push in its campaign would come in the form of a major handout to PR’s lost opposition ally, Sarawak National Party (SNAP), which is contesting against PKR in 26 seats.
This, said the sources, was tailored to split the opposition vote and guarantee a BN victory.
Wong admitted to hearing the rumours but refused to speculate on it.
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution also echoed the same fears.
“We cannot deny that we have been receiving startling support thus far, but the issue now is whether we can sustain until Saturday.
“(Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) is here and he is like Santa Claus, giving out goodies.
“This will be to our great disadvantage,” he said.
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