Focus on Chinese support for BN

WITH Barisan Nasional (BN) expected to retain its two-thirds majority, the focus of the Sarawak election is on how much Chinese support BN can regain. A political analyst predicts a swing of 10% back to the Tan Sri Adenan Satem-led BN.

Assoc Prof Dr Jeniri Amir said BN will have no problem winning two-thirds of the 82 seats given that voters from most bumiputra-majority and rural constituencies are firmly behind it.

He said Adenan’s biggest challenge is for BN to wrest back Chinese-majority seats from DAP, Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday.

“If Adenan’s team can win more Chinese-majority seats and raise BN’s popular vote to above the 55.4% it garnered in the 2011 state election, it would mean a big win for BN,” he said.

The dean of the Social Sciences Faculty of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said BN has the potential to win 65-70 seats but he deemed 23 constituencies to be “dark” or “grey” for BN. However, it had a good chance of taking three DAP fortresses – Senadin, Lambir, Piasau and Pujut.

On PKR, he said Batu Lintang, Krian and Ba’ Kelalan, held by state chief Baru Bian, look risky but opined the party still has a chance to retain them.

He said BN’s advantage is the chief minister. Adenan’s goodwill gestures including recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and grants to independent Chinese schools, as well as the PKR-DAP tussle, bode well for BN.

However, the conflict between SUPP and UPP may erode support for BN or BN direct candidates.