In a move seen as being against the run of play, Prime Minister and BN chairman Najib Razak conceded that the upcoming Sarawak state elections is one of the toughest ever. He even downplayed his coalition's chances of obtaining a two-thirds majority.
He pointed to the drop in support at urban areas, namely, Kuching, Sibu and Miri. These are areas where the Chinese form the majority of the population, and are mostly covered by the Sarawak United People's Party or SUPP. Indirectly, Najib hinted that SUPP must buck up in order to gain grounds at these constituencies.
SUPP responds by hitting the streets
Indeed, SUPP did not let their boss down. Their immediate response was carried out in an emphatic manner. They stormed the streets by demonstrating all the way to DAP's head office at Kuching.
The 200 SUPP members resorted to chants and taunts, its nosiy and attention-seeking move inviting public irritation rather than respect. Their reason for the demonstration was an insignificant one, being that DAP elections bureau publicity chief Hiew Kuan Yao had called SUPP an 'orang utan'. Onlookers and residents of Kuching were not amused by the SUPP protesters. In fact, they even helped to hurry and chase away the demonstrators from the DAP office.
Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen explained that Hiew's 'orang utan' phrase was to portray SUPP as a tool to protect interests of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud. In fact, if SUPP is sincere, members should hit the towns of Sarawak and demonstrate against their own leader,Taib Mahmud, for robbing the money of the Sarawakians whilst amassing wealth and building his own empire all around the world, said Chong.
But this would be highly unlikely given that their own party president, George Chan, fared little better. Taib Mahmud and George Chan, known fondly as the dynamic duo, have been accused of working hand-in-glove, misleading and deceiving the Sarawakians for more than 3 decades.
Future looks bleak with BN
Sarawak, although blessed with its wide list of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas and timber, remain one of the poorest state in the country. When Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin pledged recently that BN would turn Sarawak into a developed and progressive state, it drew a few giggles.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Education minister, was immediately accused of leaving his books behind for failing to notice his coalition has been ruling Sarawak for close on 5 decades already.
Yet, Sarawak has moved backwards in terms of economic development. Conyism, nepotism, mismanagement and corruption continue to haunt the once blooming state, thus stopping the Land of the Hornbills from blossoming into one of Southeast Asia's economic powerhouses.
On the side of the divide, what Pakatan Rakyat has to offer if they are given the mandate to govern for the first time in Sarawak may be the complete opposite of what is currently being practiced by BN. Or so the coalition led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim claims.
In its manifesto, Pakatan has vowed to bring in the Competency, Accountability and Transparency or CAT style of governance practised in Penang and Selangor to Sarawak if it wrests control the state government from Taib.
CAT focuses on fighting corruption, and has helped both states to top the list in terms of being the highest receipient of Foreign Direct Investment. It would also be particularly meaningful and helpful for Sarawak since endemic corruption is the state's greater cancer.
As balloting day approaches, Sarawakians are indeed closer to an era of change. Whether Pakatan manages to win, things will never be the same again in Sarawak. The people have awoken and it will only be a matter of time before they claim their full rights as citizens of the state and the country.
SUPP responds by hitting the streets
Indeed, SUPP did not let their boss down. Their immediate response was carried out in an emphatic manner. They stormed the streets by demonstrating all the way to DAP's head office at Kuching.
The 200 SUPP members resorted to chants and taunts, its nosiy and attention-seeking move inviting public irritation rather than respect. Their reason for the demonstration was an insignificant one, being that DAP elections bureau publicity chief Hiew Kuan Yao had called SUPP an 'orang utan'. Onlookers and residents of Kuching were not amused by the SUPP protesters. In fact, they even helped to hurry and chase away the demonstrators from the DAP office.
Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen explained that Hiew's 'orang utan' phrase was to portray SUPP as a tool to protect interests of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud. In fact, if SUPP is sincere, members should hit the towns of Sarawak and demonstrate against their own leader,Taib Mahmud, for robbing the money of the Sarawakians whilst amassing wealth and building his own empire all around the world, said Chong.
But this would be highly unlikely given that their own party president, George Chan, fared little better. Taib Mahmud and George Chan, known fondly as the dynamic duo, have been accused of working hand-in-glove, misleading and deceiving the Sarawakians for more than 3 decades.
Future looks bleak with BN
Sarawak, although blessed with its wide list of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas and timber, remain one of the poorest state in the country. When Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin pledged recently that BN would turn Sarawak into a developed and progressive state, it drew a few giggles.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Education minister, was immediately accused of leaving his books behind for failing to notice his coalition has been ruling Sarawak for close on 5 decades already.
Yet, Sarawak has moved backwards in terms of economic development. Conyism, nepotism, mismanagement and corruption continue to haunt the once blooming state, thus stopping the Land of the Hornbills from blossoming into one of Southeast Asia's economic powerhouses.
On the side of the divide, what Pakatan Rakyat has to offer if they are given the mandate to govern for the first time in Sarawak may be the complete opposite of what is currently being practiced by BN. Or so the coalition led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim claims.
In its manifesto, Pakatan has vowed to bring in the Competency, Accountability and Transparency or CAT style of governance practised in Penang and Selangor to Sarawak if it wrests control the state government from Taib.
CAT focuses on fighting corruption, and has helped both states to top the list in terms of being the highest receipient of Foreign Direct Investment. It would also be particularly meaningful and helpful for Sarawak since endemic corruption is the state's greater cancer.
As balloting day approaches, Sarawakians are indeed closer to an era of change. Whether Pakatan manages to win, things will never be the same again in Sarawak. The people have awoken and it will only be a matter of time before they claim their full rights as citizens of the state and the country.
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