KUCHING – As political campaigning is already taking place in Melaka for the November 20 polls under very strict and difficult standard operating procedures (SOPs) – opposition politicians in Sarawak who will soon be contesting in the 12th state election are welcoming the proposal to offer airtime on national television to all political parties and their candidates.
On Wednesday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa was reported as saying that the government was looking into the matter as it understood the difficulties faced by political parties campaigning under the new norm.
Sarawak is expected to hold a state election by the end of this year after Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud officially dissolved the state assembly on November 3. The election is to be held within 60 days of the date.
If this becomes a reality, it will be a salute to mature politics in the country,” said Parti Sarawak Bersatu opposition politician Baru Bian.
Baru who is also Ba’kelalan assemblyman and Selangau MP said offering airtime on national television for the opposition to campaign is definitely a move in the right direction.
“All parties should be given equal opportunity to share their visions and manifestos with the people and let the people judge and make their decision.
“Even independent candidates must be given the same opportunity,” he added.
DAP’s Michael Kong welcomed the move, saying giving the opposition airtime on national television will level the playing field when election campaigning begins in Sarawak.
“As the state government has decided to lift the emergency and hold elections soon under very strict public health guidelines, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) should take the necessary steps to ensure and enable campaigning in a safe environment for all candidates to reach out to voters in their constituencies.
“Our chief minister, Abang Johari, takes pride in the state’s very own television network, TV Sarawak (TVS) as he has said having our own television station is a sign of progress,” he said.
“With that, he should allow TVS and also other stations like RTM and Astro Awani to provide equal airtimes for all parties and candidates who will be campaigning during the elections.”
Kong, who is special assistant to state DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen also pointed out that since expectations are high for multi-cornered fights in most seats, it will be good to organise a public debate between all the candidates of that particular constituency.
“This will allow voters to really determine and see for themselves the ability and also ideas and principles of the respective candidates and make their decision on who to vote for.”
Kong said pending the state elections, GPS is currently a caretaker government.
“Therefore, TVS and the state apparatus Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak should be offered as a common campaign platform to all parties and their candidates. This will be fair to everyone, regardless of their political affiliations,” he added.
Sarawak PAS assistant secretary Syamsul Bahrie Mohamad told The Vibes if this proposal materialises it is a good move that took a long time to be given attention.
He said calls to offer opposition parties and candidates airtime on national television and radio is not new.
“This call has been made by opposition politicians decades ago, but to no avail, as the ruling government turned a deaf ear.”
He said mass media is very handy and effective in bringing voters and election candidates together.
“Mass media is an ideal ceramah stage as it has a wide reach and helps to take the messages of politicians, not only from the government side, but also opposition candidates right into the living rooms of the voter bank.
“Under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic it is the best way to maintain social distancing.”
“Sarawak has a huge geography and difficult terrain. In the rural areas, longhouse settlements are scattered and require crossing rivers by boats.
“Reaching these voters via television and radio would mean getting to the targeted voter banks effectively.
Besides mainstream television and radio networks such as RTM, TV3, and Astro Awani, the caretaker Sarawak government must also offer its very own state-owned television station, TVS, to political parties and their candidates.”
“After all, it is the Sarawak state elections, so why not?” he said.
During the 2013 general elections, the then Barisan Nasional government offered opposition parties a 10-minute slot to present their manifestos on RTM.
The offer, however, did not sit well with the opposition as leaders from PAS, PKR, and DAP protested that the duration offered was too brief, but stopped short of rejecting the offer outright.
They also felt that the opportunity for the opposition parties to go on air should not only be given during the election period but also throughout the year. – The Vibes, November 13, 2021
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