Pakatan win in Sarawak not a sure thing

KUCHING: Sarawak’s urban Chinese-majority seats will be less predictable this general election, unlike the previous one that saw voters inclined towards the Opposition, particularly DAP.

In 2013, DAP won Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Lanang and Sibu while PKR won Miri; Barisan Nasional won 25 of the state’s 31 parliamentary seats.

But the six Pakatan Harapan-held parliamentary seats in Malaysia’s largest state cannot be considered a sure bet this year, observers say, as voting patterns and sentiments have changed.

Barisan component Sarawak United People’s Party ( SUPP), plagued by infighting in 2013, seems to have set aside differences with splinter United People’s Party (UPP).

SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian has publicly stated the party is capable of winning back all the urban seats now held by Pakatan.

On the other hand, state DAP dep- uty chairman Chiew Ching Sing said the grouping will win a seventh urban seat as well – Bintulu, now held by Barisan component Progressive Democratic Party – although he felt the going will be tough there and in Miri.

“The reality on the ground shows that Sarawak DAP will successfully defend our seats and make crucial inroads into semi-urban areas.

“National issues are very strongly felt this time around. Sarawak’s urban voters are aware of these matters,” he said.

Chiew, the assemblyman for Tanjung Batu, said the party’s optimism is fuelled by the use of its signature rocket logo in Sarawak.

“The fact that we will be using the rocket is a boost for us.

“We have unshakable support among segments of the grassroots voters statewide,” he said.

The state election in 2016, however, saw a swing towards Barisan, which took back five Chinese-majority state seats from DAP.

Sarawak’s electoral redelineation, done in 2015, saw changes in the Bandar Kuching and Stampin constituencies, among others.

The Batu Lintang state seat, a Pakatan stronghold, was moved into Bandar Kuching from Stampin.

A more mixed state seat of Batu Kitang, with a slight Chinese majority, was moved into Stampin. Barisan won Batu Kitang in 2016.

If the 2016 trend continues, “it will not be that easy for Pakatan to retain its six seats”, said political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Jeniri Amir of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

He said based on the pattern, Barisan has a chance of regaining seats like Sibu and Sarikei.

In Miri, Jeniri felt, Barisan would have a fighting chance by fielding a candidate like SUPP secretary- general Datuk Sebastian Ting, who is also Piasau assemblyman.

“Ting is well known, humble and hardworking,” he said.

Jeniri also noted that SUPP was now in a stronger position compared to 2013.

The infighting eventually led to a split in 2014 with four assemblymen and their supporters quitting to form UPP.

Last month, SUPP and UPP signed a memorandum of understanding to take steps towards reconciliation and work together during GE14.

Federation of Chinese Associations of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions president Datuk Richard Wee said any reconciliation between SUPP and UPP would be helpful for Barisan.

He said it would be “possible” for Barisan to recapture two seats while three “would be a bonus”.

“One or two marginal seats could be difficult for Pakatan to retain,” he said, citing Miri and Sarikei.

Wee added that voter sentiment in Sarawak was different than in Peninsular Malaysia.

“The general feeling is that the people want to give the state Barisan a strong mandate so it has a stronger voice to negotiate for autonomy and devolution of power,” he said.