Sarawak will again deliver in the GE14 — Soon Koh

SIBU: Sarawak will again deliver a resounding victory to Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming 14th General Election (GE14), especially if the federal government can fulfil the promises made during the May state election.

According to Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, fulfilling the promises would be crucial, he said in response to being asked to comment on political analysts’ view that BN will retain power in GE14.

“I believe that is particularly (true) in Sarawak; I can’t comment on Semenanjung (Malaysia). As far as Sarawak is concerned, I am sure BN will have the majority particularly, if the federal government can honour, can deliver all the promises during our (last) state election.

“I hope the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and all the ministers who came to help with our state election, and who have promised the projects and programmes can fulfil them in time for the GE14 – that will help us a lot. If that is done – of course, I think Sarawak again will deliver a resounding victory to BN,” Wong, who is Bawang Assan assemblyman and UPP president said.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating at the soft opening of the general office, multipurpose hall and parsonage of Iban Methodist Church at Fong Ming Road here yesterday.

Among those present were Iban Methodist Church Sibu chairman Jacob Jampong, Temengong Stanley Geramong, Pemanca James Sembilan and UPP Sibu Bumiputera Unit chairman Andrew Shilling.

For the record, out of the 31 parliamentary seats in Sarawak, 25 are held by BN, while DAP has five and PKR, one.

Meanwhile, director of Asia Institute, University of Tasmania Prof James Chin had opined that BN would win the GE14 as the decisive and majority votes would still come from the rural areas.

State BN secretary-general Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, had also said BN Sarawak would be able to defend its 25 seats and perhaps able to wrest three seats from the opposition.

Dr Rundi added that the BN election machinery was still very much intact as it had just held its state election in May this year.

State Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Abdullah Saidol, who is Semop assemblyman, on the other hand, had said all the federal government’s promises and pledges must first be fulfilled.

“The federal government should keep its word as promised during the (last) general election by giving positive feedback and confidence to the negotiations with the state government.

“Frankly speaking, Sarawak BNBBC’s stand is that if the promises made during the last election are not fulfilled and if there is no positive response, the federal government should not regard us as its fixed deposit,” he said during the BNBBC dinner last Wednesday.

The chief political secretary to the Chief Minister had also said the state BNBBC would nevertheless go all out to help state BN parliamentary candidates win their seats.