Community leader saddened by trend of voting for opposition

MIRI: A community leader here has asked that a study be made on the pattern of voting among the Malays and other Bumiputeras in some areas in the city.

Penghulu Samad Alip made the call following the fall of Barisan Nasional ( BN) stronghold of Miri into the hands of the opposition in the just- concluded 13th general election.

“I noticed that there are changes in pattern of voting among the Malays and Bumiputeras in some predominantly Malay and Bumiputera areas here in Miri. Traditionally, they were strong supporters of Barisan Nasional,” said Samad.

Samad said he noticed the change from the votes tally from the polling streams in four polling centres in Miri, adding he was shocked and sad to note that more votes were in favour of PKR candidate Dr Michael Teo.

He named the four polling centres as SK Kampung Luak, SK Agama Mais, SK Pujut Corner and SK Senadin.

“These four centres are where majority of the Malay and other Bumiputera voters are living and they went to cast their votes in these schools. It is unbelievable and unacceptable to see that Barisan Nasional or Datuk Sebastian Ting lost to Dr Teo,” he said.

Calling on Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB), village headmen and village-level bodies and organisations to make the study, Samad said: “The big difference in tally indicates the swing in support from traditionally BN or Sarawak United People’s Party to the opposition or Parti Keadilan Rakyat or Pakatan Rakyat.”

The community leader believed the swing indicated a change in the thinking and mindset of voters, who made their decision based on the party and not the personality of the candidate.

“It is sad to see that voters are playing blind and deaf to the good things that have been done or given by the government.

“They slaughter the good and capable candidate who really cared and served the people with his heart and mind,” Samad said.