Sarawakians vote in much-awaited polls

The run-up to the election has been marked by controversy, conflict and even tragedy.

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak goes to the polls today in what is one of the most anticipated state elections since 1987, when the infamous Ming Court Affair dominated the politics of the day.

Twenty-nine years ago, the polls centred around the personality of then chief minister Taib Mahmud, one of the principal players in a political crisis arising from his power tussle with his predecessor, Abdul Rahman Yakub.

Today’s polls centres around another chief minister, Adenan Satem. Unlike Taib in 1987, however, Adenan is not a factor of discontent. The PBB President has been riding a wave of support since taking over from Taib in 2014 and his supporters say he has maximised his time in office to chart a new path for the state and implement policies and initiatives which have won the hearts of many Sarawakians.

However, the “Adenan factor” is not the only reason why this election is one to look forward to, nor will it be the sole deciding factor. The run-up to the election has been marked by controversy, conflict and even tragedy.

On both sides of the divide, there was a lot of lobbying for seats even before the state assembly was dissolved. BN component parties SUPP and SPDP were in a tussle over seats with their respective pro-BN splinter parties UPP and Teras, while on the opposition front, trouble between PKR and DAP had started brewing just weeks after the Pakatan Harapan Agreement was signed.

From the get go, PKR had announced it would stand for seats it had traditionally contested, while DAP had voiced its intention to contest in a number of Dayak-dominated constituencies, some of which were considered PKR territory. Both parties also staked claims to some of the 11 new seats. Sarawak DAP and national PKR leaders were trading barbs even while seat negotiations in Kuala Lumpur were going on.

A ceasefire of sorts was achieved by the two Pakatan parties, but this was undone near nomination day, when Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, unhappy with seat arrangements agreed to by national leaders, said he would veto the decision. The fallout saw PKR and DAP overlapping in six seats and party leaders trading more barbs.

On the BN front, it was not all smooth sailing either. There was much unhappiness despite Adenan’s best efforts, including his decision to deploy “Direct-BN” candidates – those who stand for election without associating with any of the coalition’s component parties.

In Batu Kawah, a UPP leader, unhappy that the seat was given to SUPP, decided to stand as an independent candidate. In Dudong, a SUPP leader did the same.

In fact, the deployment of Direct-BN candidates itself attracted controversy, with SUPP and PRS voicing concern that these candidates would join PBB if they win, giving the party more than 41 places in the 82-seat state assembly.

Another talking point in the run-up to the polls was the barring of many peninsula-based opposition leaders from the state and the order to those who were allowed in to leave before polling day. That order applied to election volunteers as well. This continues to draw condemnation from opposition figures and supporters. They accuse Adenan of abusing Sarawak’s autonomous immigration rights.

However, as the election frenzy reached its peak, tragedy struck on Thursday. A helicopter carrying six people, including Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Noriah Kasnon and Kuala Kangsar MP Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad, crashed while en route from Betong to Kuching.

The incident undoubtedly casts a shadow over the election today.