S’wak DUN dissolved, Opposition to weigh their chances
Today, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Abdul Ghani Salleh stated that nomination and polling dates would be announced on April 14.
The election is expected to be held in early May with the 7th or 8th touted as the most likely date for over 1 million voters in the nation’s biggest state to head to the polling booths.
This election will also see the introduction of 11 new state seats; Batu Kitang, Stakan, Serembu, Bukit Semuja, Gedong, Kabong, Tellian, Bukit Goram, Murum, Samalaju and Mulu.
With Sarawak Barisan Nasional, helmed by Chief Minister Adenan Satem seemingly convinced of a 60-70 majority out of 82 seats, the Opposition, mainly made up of parties from the peninsular, appear to be treating the election cautiously.
Presently, only PAS, who broke away from PKR and DAP in the former Pakatan Rakyat coalition, has announced all their seats and candidates.
PAS will contest in 10 Malay/Melanau majority seats, and one Dayak majority seat with its first non-Muslim candidate, Clement Bayang in Kakus.
Other seats contested by the Islamist party are Muara Tuang, Beting Maro, Lambir, Sadong Jaya, Pantai Damai, Pujut, Samariang, Sebuyau, Jepak and Samalaju.
Meanwhile PKR, DAP and Amanah of the new Opposition coalition of Pakatan Harapan, are expected to finalise their seats by next week.
An Opposition party source told FMT that PKR will contest in 37 seats, down nine from 2011 while DAP will increase their presence by contesting in at least 35 seats, up 20 from the last state election.
Meanwhile, PAS-splinter party Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) is expected to face PAS head-on in 10 seats.
“We are still discussing some seats. But PAS will definitely clash with Amanah,” the source told FMT.
Earlier PAS made it clear they would not compromise or change their seats with any party from the Opposition.
With several Opposition leaders from the Peninsular having been banned by the Sarawak Government from entering the state, their hopes now rest on local leaders to mount a fight against the PBB.
Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian said the party would continue to use their policy documents i.e. PR Manifesto 2011, their submission to the Parliamentary Select Committee 2012, Kuching Declaration 2012, Manifesto for GE13, and 18-Point Roadmap for Sarawak, in all their campaigns.
“We have five policy documents that declare and pledge to ensure that our rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and 18-point agreement be reviewed, revisited and enforced as BN has neglected it for the last 53 years,” he said at the Safeguard Sarawak forum here yesterday.
However it remains to be seen if PKR, who only won three seats in the last state election can lead the Opposition in making an impact this time around.
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