Kuching: Then and now
Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew Daily
Flying into Kuching from Sibu is like taking a flight back to West Malaysia. The City of Cats is not much different from any major city in West Malaysia.
The modern airport terminal, large shopping malls, fashionable boutiques, all dressing the city into a showcase of style, and with the election now drawing nearer and nearer, it takes on the form of a major political battleground as well, especially in Chinese-majority constituencies.
In the 2011 state elections, DAP swept five Chinese-predominant seats in Kuching. As if that’s not enough, the party won with a landslide with the only exception of a mixed constituency with a relatively high bumiputra population.
BN’s SUPP was uprooted overnight, including Dr Sim Kui Hian whose clean and refreshing image had failed to win him the acceptance of the city’s voters.
On the eve of state election five years ago, I remember the massive crowd at the DAP ceramah outside a Kuching mall, with the spectators boiling in emotion regardless of what the speakers on the stage had to say.
On the polling day, as widely anticipated, voters cast their ballots to vent their frustration and to remove Taib Mahmud they had hated so much.
Today, Taib is no more in office, not because he has been driven out of office by the voters, but on his own accord. Has the voters’ frustration been allayed? Is the political environment today still the same as five years ago?
I CAME TO a Green Road coffee shop known for its legendary Kolo Mee and beef noodle. A big crowd was already gathering there when I arrived.
Many were seen burying their heads in newspapers, a sign the election heat was indeed gaining steam in the city. Everyone was concerned about the election and it wouldn’t take much effort to start a chat with a stranger there.
The man sharing the same table with me was a sub-contractor of mainly government projects.
“How will the Kuching people vote this time? BN or opposition?” I posed my question straight to him.
“Of course the opposition. You see, the 1MDB scandal and the RM100 million loss incurred to the government by a youth and sports ministry official. There are many more issues. Do we have a choice at all?” He replied candidly.
“But, Adenan has implemented a lot of changes since he took over. He’s moderate and liberal and supports Chinese education. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes, even if Adenan has done very well, that’s what he ought to do. We need the opposition to voice up more loudly in the state assembly and oversee the administration.”
“The question is, if Adenan fails to get the support of the Chinese community, will he still go on with his people-friendly policies in future?” I sounded a little provocative.
“No problem. Kuching is already quite well developed. We don’t need to worry about the development issue. Moreover, Adenan is a good guy. You choose him or not, he will still do it.”
I MOVED OVER to a housing estate on the fringe of the city. The place looks something like PJ with its wide and tidy avenues.
I stepped into a fashionable and elegant cafe that boasts a comprehensive selection of premium beans.
A young couple were sipping coffee while working on their computers. I went up to them, identifying myself as from West Malaysia and was keen to learn more about the election in Sarawak.
The young man was a professional who admitted he was a DAP supporter during the last election.
“After they won, all they have been doing is some window-dressing and when the time comes, they start making some noise just to please a specific group of people.
“Sarawak cannot afford to stay stagnant like this. We need to move forward, and this is only possible if the political parties and politicians lead the people towards a vision.”
“Does Adenan provide such a vision?” I asked.
“Needs some observation. Some of the things have changed. I need to think about it before making a decision.”
Five years on, some in Kuching remain unchanging, some may change, and some may have already changed. This is the beauty of competition and election, creating all sorts of possibilities in politics.
