Sarawak chief minister says state polls may be held early next year

Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem says the people of Sarawak have no interest in issues like the 1MDB financial scandal, and are more interested in bread and butter issues. – The Malaysian Insider pic, September 17, 2015.Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem yesterday gave his clearest hint yet that the state elections will be held “early next year”.

On TV3's Soal Jawab (question and answer) programme last night, Adenan ruled out having the election this year as he said he would like to see “what the national budget is like for Sarawak”.

The 2016 Budget will be tabled in Parliament next month.

Adenan, who is seeking his own mandate as chief minister, also said having an election in December during the monsoon season was bad.

Most political pundits in the state had previously pointed to April as being the possible date.

Adenan, who is asking people to “give me five more years” in his public engagements, said the Barisan Nasional (BN) would win comfortably as the people “are leaning to the dacing (scale)”.

“They will still go for the BN,” he said.

He said issues like the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal and alleged mismanagement would have no bearing on the outcome of the state election.

“People could be asking what is this 1MDB.”

Adenan said people in Sarawak, particularly in the rural areas, are more interested in bread and butter issues.

“They want the basic infrastructure – roads, water and electricity.

“They don't care much for issues like scandals or human rights. To live a better life is more important to them.”

Adenan said the BN might suffer some reversal “here and there”, particularly in the urban areas where he admitted the middle class are unhappy with the BN government, but it is not enough to topple the government.

He said the disarray in the opposition would contribute to their defeat.

“The state BN is in some disarray but the opposition is in much more disarray.”

When asked if Sarawak is still a BN fixed deposit, Adenan said he would like to believe it still is.

“I think this election will determine that. Wait and see the election result.”

The mandate of the state government ends in mid-June next year.