MIRI – Opposition Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and Sarawak PKR have separately claimed that money had swayed many voters at the very last moments before polling.
PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said PSB ground teams found widespread use of money in every of the 82 state constituencies.
Wong, who won in Bawang Assan, said he managed to win narrowly.
“We found money was used widely to entice voters in all the constituencies. Sadly, in Sarawak, so many are still lured by these handouts.
“They cannot see beyond the money, so money is still king in this state. Many Sarawakians are not willing to change, not ready for a drastic shift in thinking,” he told reporters in Sibu town.
Wong said PSB, which contested in 70 seats but only won four seats, will continue the political fight through its services to the rakyat and speak out for them.
Meanwhile, Sarawak PKR information chief Abun Sui told The Vibes today that people went to each longhouse to give RM100 per person, plus RM500 per family in each room.
“This happened during the days leading to polling. Massive amounts of money were used to entice the people to not vote for the opposition,” he said.
The use of handouts had also lured urban poor to accept these money in exchange for votes, he said.
Sarawak PKR lost in all the 27 seats they contested, with about half of their candidates losing their deposits.
Opposition arrogant, disunited
Meanwhile, a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) senior politician made another observation regarding the coalition’s rivals on the opposing aisle.
Datuk Peter Minos pointed out that they were soundly trounced because of their leaders' boastful nature, their inability to compromise, and their constant clamouring for the chief minister post.
At the same time, the opposition leaders had displayed a high-and-mighty attitude throughout the state election, and even before, he said.
The deputy information chief of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, the backbone of the ruling coalition, said their behaviour had annoyed many Sarawakians.
“Those in the opposition parties, especially in DAP and PSB, were brash and arrogant. Their leaders criticised those of other parties, boasting about who will be the next chief minister.
“Even before they won any seats, they were already fighting with each other. They cannot work with each other. They were constantly arguing publicly, challenging each other on who will be the better chief minister.
“They were so concerned with their personal ambitions. This sort of peninsula-style politics does not go down well with Sarawakians. GPS presented Sarawakians with the choice of a stable team. The voters opted for our style, and rejected the arrogant opposition,” he said.
Out of the 82 seats being contested, DAP only took two and PSB four, with GPS taking the lion’s share of 77 seats.
Even Minos himself said the margin of victory was unexpected.
“We did not expect such a big win. It shows that we are on the right track with our policies,” he said. – The Vibes, December 19, 2021
