DOMINO EFFECT in 5 years Time

It’s normal for some ruffling to take place after any Elections. The recently concluded Sarawak State Elections caused a few raised eyebrows because BN has lost some ground, luck appeared to be on PBB’s side, they managed to win in all their contested constituencies with reduced majorities in many areas where they have been known to dominate.

SUPP’s outgoing Chairman Dr. George Chan today called on the party to inject new blood by giving the younger lot to lead the Chinese based party. He’s banking on a Doctor who lost in the Election to take over from him. Surely, this gesture would annoy his other senior counterparts namely Wong Soon Koh and Peter Chin, Ministers and veterans who can be upgraded to the post quite easily by virtue of their seniority. Strictly speaking, the Chinese in Sarawak have lost trust on their once strong party.

PRS is also without their own trouble as their YB Joseph Mauh is accused by a Tuai Rumah of giving bounced checks. The video clip is on “you tube” interestingly. PRS lost Pelagus and cannot assume their role as the spokesman of the Dayaks anymore.

SPDP’s President Mawan is left with only 3 YBs who might support him and come the next TGA may see the band of 5 dethroning him as Party President. Many know him as not being a man of his words and lacking principles, so he has to be wary of what he does in the appointment of his Political Secretaries soon. But one thing is for certain, he has to stop his drinking habits.

BN has really to pull up their socks to win convincingly in the next parliamentary general Election in Sarawak. The people of Sarawak are waking up and the rural sectors will be the next target of the opposition. They have already captured 2 seats in the sub rural, so going rural is just a matter of time. Sarawak will experience the DOMINO EFFECT in 5 years time. BN is losing their grip in this Oil rich State deprived of mainstream development.

Will Predictions come through - A new Chief Minister for Sarawak?

Elections are always interesting for all those akin to politics and also a time for people to engage in fruitful arguments. Some may turn ugly, that's expected. Many people in Sarawak welcome it because they see it as a time to “make some money” too. But of course, BN will be quite generous with the people during such a time dishing out their “supersonic” projects, and by hook or by crook, just ask and you will likely get what you want. Fishing for votes is an old game plan.

The Sarawak National Party, better known as SNAP to the older generation may thwart their foes in the upcoming Elections, that is if they have learnt their lesson from the last one where they were thrashed except for one seat. But what is disturbing is the fact that PKR is also interested in this wrestling game for seats. Here it means trouble for SNAP and the Opposition if they cannot come to terms on the allocation of seats. Disunity will see them crumble. That said, I think SNAP is still a party that can score some victories, if given the chance to go 1 to 1 with BN.

SNAP’s President, Edwin Dundang who resides in Miri and a known figure in Baram from his days as District Officer in Marudi has announced that he will be the candidate for Marudi. Edwin has also released to the Press names of SNAP members who have been chosen to stand in Dayak majority areas. It certainly looks like SNAP is taking things seriously and well prepared to go to battle. With political veteran Tajem to chart the course, one really cannot predict the outcome and what they can do to win the hearts of the Dayaks. They are after all the oldest party in the state and their logo is still well accepted by the older folks of the Iban communities. Could they spring up some surprises?

DAP is really interested only in areas where the Chinese are the majority and as such will hold their fort and unseat SUPP in some more urban areas like Miri.

Because of PAS’s influence towards the muslims and Malays, PBB (Parti Bumiputera Bersatu) may see some defeats this time around if the right candidates from the Opposition pact are picked to challenge some of their old incumbents.

SPDP (some described as Semua Palau Dalam Pub - "palau" in Iban means drunk) has to pull up their socks and should they lose any seats in this Elections, it will be because of their “palau” habits. Their YBs drink too much except for the Group of 5 who are still, though quietly, very much against their President Mawan.

The Party that would still prove their mettle is PRS led by Dr. James Masing. This Iban based party is expected to win all seats.Their only big problem now is Pelagus where Larry Sng, the youngest member of Taib's cabinet, may be thrown in as a "direct" BN candidate. The BN leadership (CM and PM) can do what they like as far as choice of candidates go.

Having said all of the above, what is most dangerous for BN and can see BN losing out in Sarawak is the word CHANGE that has taken over people's minds in many parts of the world. The Opposition is blessed with this word and if we do get a new Chief Minister for Sarawak, whoever that maybe, it is Sarawakians going for CHANGE, no more no less.

REAL Issues of the next GE in Sarawak

Sarawak’s politics may take a new twist come the next GE in a few months time. A good number of Sarawakians are excited for the unexpected to happen. And it could turn real as evidenced by scenarios now happening right in our midst. Will they impact on the political bearing of the coming elections in the State is left to be seen?

First, the old man Taib is not very much liked anymore as Chief Minister, even by his inner circles who are keeping their silence. This is simply because of his age besides his clinging on to power, somewhat like Mubarak who realized his own fault too little too late. And if he is disliked, it has nothing to do with his recent marriage to a sexy Syrian model which many actually liked. People are in fact more curious over the marriage of the President of SUPP to a fair looking Kelabit lady.

Second, the power of the internet is engulfing the young minds in Sarawak and information today travels at supersonic speed. Bad information about the Government can spread like wild fire amongst the young who have not been well managed by the BN government who can't even take care of their mat rempits. The hand phone is their well guarded tool to spread all the faults of the BN YBs in Sarawak.

Third, PAS has penetrated many PBB strongholds in the State over the past year spreading their seeds over the kampongs that Malay support may dwindle to the benefit of the opposition parties.

And fourth, the Chinese in urban areas who make up one third of the electorates are strongly behind DAP. This is no laughing matter and SUPP may be in for another shock this time around.

Balloons Bursting in Sarawak BN

The Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) which is a BN partner is today slapped in the face by a BN veteran YB Sagah. Sarawakians know that SPDP is already trying to survive an internal squabble and such a statement in the press from a BN member of the house will not make its flamboyant President Mawan happy at all. Will he confront the man head-on or like the cool person he seems to be, shrugged it off lightly. Roland Sagah, a member of the state house has of late been disturbed by the bad mouth of some “SPDP linked groups” in his constituency.

The interesting thing is the Balloons are now bursting in Sarawak's BN. It looks like some BN stalwarts are now opening up and opening up quick with perhaps the PRS President as the man to watch. Indirectly they are sending a message to the old man Taib that his time is up to play any more magic. The PRS President Masing and his lieutenants are adamant that the state seat of Pelagus belongs to the Ibans and PRS and not to the Taib favored Larry Sng. They have echoed over and over again that PRS will not budge over its rightful claim on Pelagus.

Ironically, the PM‘s call for direct BN membership has also received a lukewarm welcome from the BN YBs in Sarawak. There wasn’t much support for it in the press and that calls for concern. On the other hand, we can assume that the man happiest to hear the “direct entry” stuff is Larry. It means that his ride to be re appointed the candidate in Pelagus will not be that bumpy.

The Impossible Dream

Two things can happen, Taib can step down quietly without any hassle or he can be pressured to step down by Kuala Lumpur. Both ways, the time is really up for him to genuinely give way to someone younger, not as the Chief Minister of Sarawak but as Head of the commanding PBB, Sarawak. As we cannot really predict that BN will win outright again in the next GE in the state, let’s not say that he should step aside as CM for another. That would be wrong. The next CM could well be an opposition member or a now BN member turned opposition.

I thought for a while that it could happen in Sarawak without much of a problem. PR can join up force with SUPP, PRS and SPDP to force a simple majority and what if some PBB YBs jumping ship, there you are, a new unity Government can materialize. Would it be impossible? Perhaps not, in politics even your wildest dreams can come through sometimes.

Such turn of events cannot be ruled out altogether. For Sarawakians, it would be foolish to think of it as annoying Kuala Lumpur if the state is to rid itself of corruption, nepotism etc. And surely, we don’t know how the GE in Peninsula is going to turn out this time around. BN has created too many potholes and the rakyat aren’t blind nor deaf that they are unable to see the right from wrong. Be your own Judge.

Divide and Rule - An OLD Game Plan

Secrets are to be kept but one can’t stop another from fouling the game of secrecy especially when it involves political moves and the Chief Minister of Sarawak. There was a big BN retreat to the Mulu National Park a couple of days back and the hot topic was about the coming elections in Sarawak, it must be held by June at the latest, of 2011.

As is the case always, these big BN meetings in Sarawak will be a closed door affair, the doors locked from the inside. Everything discussed then will be “classified” and leaders would be reminded to keep their mouths shut. But human beings are creatures that have a mind to tell tales. Being such, what's told will then be untold. It means what transpired would soon be talked and the news would then be unceremoniously splashed with special "add-on" by individuals who are really loaded flamboyant BN political rumour mongers. These will eventually spilled over to those in the opposition who as foes are only too glad to hear the “good” news or loathe the bad ones. For the old withering guy, the game of "DIVIDE and RULE" is again a hidden agenda which can never be proven.

Tales can also be told about the once largest and strongest party in Sarawak - the Sarawak National Party formed by the late Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan. Sarawak sees a new chapter today when the oldest party around regained some of its pride with the announcement on the setting aside of its deregistration by the Court of Appeals. Many die hard SNAP members in their 70s must be happy to hear such news. Dundang, their stylish President living in Miri should be pleased and happy too. However, it will not put SNAP in any better position in Sarawak because the Party has hardly done anything for the people of Sarawak in the last 10 years. Internal squabbles amongst party leaders have not been trashed out and the party looked doomed alright, not until today. This should give them a new lease of life and at the least, some new political bearing to fight on their cause.

But alas, it is going to split the Ibans once again making it so much easier for the old man to divide and rule, perhaps for another term.The vicious cycle goes on.

BN's Old Tune Replayed in Sibu

You feel like vomiting listening to our BN political leaders defending their stance just because they want to win Sibu. They are throwing everything they have got to save SUPP from embarrassment. All of a sudden, Sibu is their pet topic. Of course, it’s all about promises, promises and more promises, the old outdated rhetoric replayed. When you hear the same tune over and over again, it makes you sick.

Are we going to be taken in by all these goodies that Najib’s government is promising to the Sibu people? To me, it’s just like telling a 7 year old to sing, dance and be merry because there are chocolates and toys waiting for him.

You can bet that internet savvy Foochows in their 20s will not be hoodwinked by BN’s sweet promises because the news today has no boundaries and the inquisitive mind can be smarter than any Datuk or BN professor out there appearing on tv as proxies of BN. The Sarawak Datuk appearing on TV1 tonight was to me, technically stupid and out of tempo when trying to defend BN achievements in rural Sarawak.

Time has changed and gone are the days when SUPP rules the Sarawak Chinese electorates, their “mafia” days and ways are a thing of the past, ineffective in today’s world.

The time for change may be getting nearer in Sarawak. The opposition DAP leader has mildly put it that the league will start with Sibu.

Sarawak smelled like Kasam Ikan - Sibu By Elections

This is politics. BN is a veteran and so are Taib Mahmud and his gang of elders comprising George Chan, Alfred Jabu , James Masing and William Mawan. They will do whatever it takes to win the Sibu by election. By hook or by crook, they must win this so called “challenge” by DAP and ironically Najib. Najib meant business and “no main main” attitude could be tolerated. Even by elections has a KPI.

Taib and his gang know that losing Sibu will be like an iron ball hitting their head. They would go all out to make sure the iron ball stuff would never materialized. They want to show Najib that they are still very much in control in Sarawak although Najib knows that many things in the land of the hornbills smelled like “kasam ikan”.

Voters are just as smart today, the Sibu ones comprising mainly of Foochows can get what they want if they play their cards right. And of course the Foochows are known for their smart ways. I am sure they have by now, planned to ask for the “sky” if they could have their wish. This is the time BN will whitewash everything and “turut saja”. Just give the Sibu people what they asked for. Losing to DAP in Sibu will be like a pancake thrown on George Chan’s face. He cannot afford to see his party lose.