KUCHING – Sarawak PAS is all set to pitch a candidate for the fifth time in the riverine Beting Maro constituency in the upcoming state election.
If its candidate wins this time, victory will be very sweet for the Islamist party, which has been tirelessly fielding candidates in Beting Maro – a constituency famous for its gula apong and nipah palm savoury foodstuffs – since the last four state elections.
Beting Maro hosts a largely Malay-Muslim voter bank of more than 10,500 registered voters who are mostly fishermen, farmers, and vegetable and fruit growers spread throughout its three polling districts of Beladin, Undai, and Pusa.
Making a successful landfall in this Malay-Muslim hub where Barisan Nasional’s Razaili Gapor now holds court as the incumbent assemblyman has been elusive and is seemingly a long-haul endeavour for PAS.
But the party is still adamant to create its first Islamic bastion in Beting Maro. PAS perceives Beting Maro as a bastion that will fortify itself and serve as a launchpad to eventually make inroads into the other regions of the state.
The state government has earmarked the constituency as a potential food basket region. Last year, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak government allocated RM1.5 billion to the Betong, Sarikei, and Mukah divisions, from which Beting Maro will receive the spin-off effects for its agricultural infrastructure.
Razaili said several areas have been identified for the implementation of drainage and irrigation facilities in his constituency, which will also include the Muton-Undoi enclave.
“With this integrated development project, we hope the local population of farmers will be able to improve their economic activities by being actively involved in agriculture and food-producing, employing modern agricultural technology.”
In the 2016 state election, the PAS candidate Hamidah Mokhtar lost to Razaili in a three-cornered fight where PAS, BN, and Amanah clashed for the seat.
BN received 4,758 votes, PAS 3,051, and Amanah’s Andri Zulkarnaen Hamden managed a mere 103 votes. Hamidah lost by a majority of 1,707 votes. The voter turnout totalled 8,035.
Speaking to The Vibes today, the party’s state assistant secretary Syamsul Bahrie Mohamad said the party has gained traction by its continued presence in Beting Maro since the previous four elections.
“We see a changing trend in voter sentiments in the constituency and are confident of a good outing in the upcoming elections.”
He said the party will be pitting businessman Mohd Arif Riaz Ul, an MBA holder and a previous staffer of Petronas in Sarawak.
According to him, the party has an interest in placing candidates in 10 other seats but names will be announced at a later date.
When reminded that the current GPS government is contesting in all 82 state seats and may not welcome any “intrusion by candidates from other parties”, he said it will be a win-win situation in the end.
“It does not matter who wins as GPS and PAS are both Perikatan Nasional-friendly at the national level. We will leave it to the PAS central leadership to negotiate with the GPS government,” adding, “in a democratic landscape anybody can contest in an election”.
He reiterated that PAS has a strong foothold in Beting Maro based on encouraging feedback from Malay-Muslim voters there.
“We have made a strong impression in the hearts and minds of the voters in the constituency so far, and our constant presence in the area is something big to go by.”
For example, the sales pitch of a poultry seller in Beting Maro advertised on the constituency’s Facebook page says: “Ayam halal, lagi bersih. Kami pelihara, kami jaga, kami yang sembelih. Jangan risau. Kami tak sembelih ayam yang dah mati.
(“Our chickens are halal and clean. We rear, care for, and slaughter them. Don’t worry, we don’t use already-dead chickens.”)
“Insya-Allah terjamin halalnya. Mohon kongsikan kebaikan. Moga usaha fardhu kifayah ini membawa berkah dalam hidup kita. Amin.”
(“God willing, they are guaranteed halal. Share the goodness. May our fardhu kifayah efforts bring blessings in our lives. Amin.”)
It seems like this poultry seller is leaning on the “halal” narrative – a favourite talking point of the Islamist party. – The Vibes, November 10, 2021
