Losing urban ground, BN turns to rural areas

(Harakahdaily) – PAS has reminded its machinery in the Sarawak election not to be complacent following the exceptionally good response towards Pakatan Rakyat in the urban areas, which it said prompted Barisan Nasional to now focus to rural areas, where PAS is contesting.

“Now that the BN feels it is unable to stop the wave of change in urban areas, it is focusing on rural areas to hold on to power,” warned PAS secretary general, Mustafa Ali.

Mustafa echoed the now familiar concern among PR leaders that despite the apparent warming up of voters to PR’s campaign, there would be ‘last minute dirty tactics’ by BN.

“BN has underestimated the people’s clamour for change which is happening now because they have never expected the opposition against BN and support for PR to be so strong.

“I would like to remind PAS’s machinery that we are only half way into the campaign, so don’t be complacent or over confident,” he added.

Mustafa said that having lost the Chinese battleground, BN was shifting its focus to Malay-Melanau and Iban areas in the rural constituencies, including the five seats contested by PAS in Beting Maro, Sebuyau, Sadon Jaya, Muara Tuang and Tanjung Datu.

“It is as if they have resigned to the fact that urban areas are lost cause, so they are heading towards the rural areas,” said Mustafa, who said the new strategy would add more pressure on PAS, and called on party workers to double their efforts.

On prime minister Najib Razak’s decision to lead the coalition’s election campaign, Mustafa said it was proof that Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud was a liability.

Mustafa expressed optimism that Sarawak’s political landscape was set to transform after polling day this Saturday.