Tide still not flowing BN’s way
After five days of campaigning, the Barisan Nasional still finds itself in a fluid position – there are no clear indications that the tide is flowing in its favour.
Written by Zainal Epi, Free Malaysia Today
After five days of campaigning, the Barisan Nasional still finds itself in a fluid position – there are no clear indications that the tide is flowing in its favour.
Despite expressing confidence of retaining the seat, many BN campaigners are worried that the people have not been won over. They say the next two days will determine whether the voters will tilt towards the BN.
Federal leaders have been coming in and going out of the flourishing port town, handing out goodies particularly to the Chinese who comprise 67% of the 54,600-odd voters. But the ruling party appears to be trailing its opponent in the battle to capture the hearts and minds of the people.
Traditionally, the Chinese in Sibu are supporters of BN but since the 1990s, their support has been dwindling while their list of demands and grievances has been growing longer.
The BN government – state and federal – is in a fix: if it fulfils their demands, the other races might feel slighted.
But the Chinese are pressing ahead with their demands, especially on land matters, and this is where the BN is vulnerable. Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has also come under heavy fire for his “unhealthy” practices.
For the business community, land is a big problem. This mainly concerns the lease, which ranges from 30 years to 60 years. Many owners have complained that the premium for renewal is too high, with some estimating it at between RM20,000 and RM30,000.
Then there is Taib whom many feel is becoming a hindrance to business. There are loud noises in the business circle that the chief minister is practising cronyism and nepotism, which they say is hampering growth.
Going into overdrive
One sign that BN’s influence is eroding is the size of the crowd: DAP ceramah invariably pulled in bigger crowds than BN’s.
