Sarawak race tightens as Najib takes BN campaign reins
By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider
KUCHING, April 10 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak will go on the stump for Barisan Nasional (BN) in Sarawak for a record six days until Friday, the clearest sign yet that the ruling pact is feeling the heat in its struggle to defend a state often referred to as its “fixed deposit”.
BN is said to be facing tremendous pressure from Pakatan Rakyat (PR), particularly in the Chinese-majority constituencies where voters seem taken in by DAP’s “vote for change” agenda.
In the capital city here as well as in Sibu and Miri, DAP’s rallies have been drawing crowds in the thousands, a rare occurrence in Sarawak where voters have been described as cautious and conservative.
PKR, in the meantime, expressed confidence it is gaining ground in at least 12 state seats namely Batu Lintang, Saribas, Ba’kelalan, Layar, Krian, Opar, Bengoh, Tarat, Batang Air, Engkilili, Senadin and Batu Danau.
Despite the opposition’s fierce campaign tactics, BN’s Sarawak-based parties appear to have gotten off on a lacklustre start in their quest to defend the state, employing the pact’s age-old playbook of organising formal meet-the-people functions and walkabouts graced by the presence of federal ministers.
Furthermore, BN’s campaign is also said to be bogged down by countless reports and allegations of corruption and abuse of power against its Sarawak chief of executive, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the country’s longest-serving Chief Minister.
A visit to several villages in what is said to be a stronghold of BN’s Sarawak People’s Democratic Party (SPDP) in Tasik Biru, showed that the opposition was fast gaining ground.
Many voters, when approached, appeared cautious when asked who they planned to support for the coming polls and were guarded with their responses.
Instead of the usual shouts of “BN!”, they chose to remain tight-lipped on their choice, a clear sign that the opposition has successfully made some inroads in the BN fortress.
As such, the prime minister, who already dropped in for a one-day visit on Thursday here, will now lead BN’s campaign for Sarawak and is scheduled for a hectic journey across the hornbill state beginning today, making lightning stops at numerous hotspots in Kuching, Miri and Sibu.
He will touch down at the Kuching International airport here at 7.40pm tonight before attending a meet-the-leaders session at the Kuching South City Council at 8.30pm.
On Monday, the prime minister will attend a gotong-royong community event at the Stutong Community Market at 8.10am before moving on to Pekan Saratok in Betong at 9.15am, then another meet-the-people session at Masjid Kampung Beladin a 10.30am, and subsequent functions at a futsal stadium in Betong, Bandar Sri Aman and Lubok Antu at 12pm, 2.40pm and 4pm.
The Prime Minister will return to Kuching for a 1 Malaysia dinner at 8pm before flying back to Kuala Lumpur at 10pm.
He will return to Kuching on Tuesday but has no scheduled function for the day.
On Wednesday, Najib will kick off another series of lightning visits beginning with breakfast at 8.30am at Engkili, 10am at Sebuyau, 11.20am at Sadong Jaya, 1pm at Bau town in Tasik Biru, 5.10pm at the KMC Flats here, 6.30pm for prayers and dinner at Masjid Darul Farhanah and 8.30pm for a 1 Malaysia Development Board function at SK Merpati Jepang. He will leave for Miri at 10.15pm.
On Thursday, Najib will launch the 1 Malaysia mobile boat clinic for Sungai Baram at Marudi at 8.15am, then move on to Bario at 10.15am, Ba’Kelalan at 11.45am, Lawas at 1.30pm, Limbang for two functions at 3pm and 4.45pm and attend dinner at Dewan Dato Permaisuri at Permyjaya in Miri at 8pm. He will fly to Sibu at 10pm.
