A muted campaign and little’s likely to change in Sarawak

 

Iban children at a longhouse near Sibu. The ruling GPS may be hard-pressed to get the Iban and Bidayuh votes. (Bernama pic)

KUCHING: The finale is at hand although the campaigning for the Sarawak polls has been anything but a grand show.

Even with a huge clutch of parties and a whopping 349 contestants, the campaigning for 82 seats has been a rather muted affair with only party flags and banners indicating that an election is taking place in the country’s largest state.

Few national political party leaders have made the trip to Sarawak and the lack off buzz is quite obvious. Even the elections in the tiny state of Melaka last month were more exciting.

About the most exciting happening was the release of a video by Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan, in which he claimed he was being arrested and that his life was in danger after he was stopped by a couple of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers.

However, the authorities denied that Voon was arrested, saying they wanted only to record his statement for a case they were investigating.

The issues played up during the campaign were not much different from those that made the headlines much earlier. The parties as well as their candidates hardly got into a war of words except for Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen and Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s most senior federal minister, Fadillah Yusof.

Some observers and many locals say the reason for the muted show is that the outcome – that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will win again – is a foregone conclusion.

Fuelling this notion is the observation that GPS will be taking on a splintered opposition. There are nine opposition parties, with only DAP, PKR and Amanah being in one team.

On top of this, Covid-19 concerns, political fatigue and expensive air tickets for voters outside the state have made it a quiet, local affair. Moreover, the polls are being held prior to the enforcement of the Undi18 law, which leaves the more excitable young out of the action.

Political observers appear more interested in the question of GPS’ margin of victory.

This election is an acid test for incumbent chief minister Abang Johari Openg’s support after he took over from the popular Adenan Satem, who in 2016 led Sarawak Barisan Nasional to a sweeping victory, winning 72 of the 82 seats.

A repeat of 2016 is unlikely, but observers and those in the know say Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) is likely to make some inroads, particularly in Dayak areas. The growing popularity of PSB has seen it drawing the crowds in Iban areas.

There is also speculation that GPS will struggle in Bidayuh seats, given the community’s swing to the opposition in the 14th general election.

Ibans are also known as Sea Dayaks while the Bidayuh are known as Land Dayaks.

“It’s not a problem for GPS to win a two-thirds majority,” said one observer who declined to be named.

“But it could lose five to seven more seats than in 2016. Even if it wins 65 seats, that’s 10 more than the number of seats needed to win a two-thirds majority.”

He added, however, that the results might not be reflective of the support GPS will get in the next general election (GE15).

“It could be very different in GE15 when the younger voters come in. Some may not be too happy that they weren’t allowed to vote this time.” - FMT