THE rise in Covid-19 cases throughout Sarawak has failed to hinder political associates and campaigners from carrying out their campaigning exercise especially in rural areas.
Should the emergency be lifted by Thursday, the state government is supposed to dissolve and allow the 12th Sarawak elections to be conducted within 60 days of August 1.
As the day looms, I have learnt that many have started to go to the ground in an attempt to woo voters despite ongoing restrictions since two weeks ago.
The political workers, my sources said, are vigorously travelling from one rural settlement to another to drum up support for their parties under the guise of distributing food aid.
It is learnt that this illegal political campaigning is being conducted by both the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and opposition parties as well.
In addition to supplying food aid, these seasoned campaigners have taken the opportunity to plant party flags, paste party posters as well as distribute t-shirts, caps and towels imprinted with party logos.
These actions are not only contravening enhanced movement control order (EMCO) restrictions but also violating the Election Commission (EC)’s political campaigning regulations as well.
In my opinion, the brazen action by these groups of people is plainly due to the lack of enforcement and the lackadaisical attitude by the majority of the rural folk that prefer to receive such aid instead of reporting it to the authorities.
Against the tough terrain of Sarawak’s rural backdrop, I admit that authorities have their backs against the wall when it comes to fully stopping such acts.
While I fully support the supply of food aid for rural folks as the majority of them are under the B40 category, what is the need to include political campaigning now?
The risk of more deaths and infections in Sarawak is real with 401 people dead and 62,000 infections throughout all 40 districts in the state.
Would any campaigner own up to themselves, should additional Covid-19 clusters appear following their visit?
Given the virus’ inexplicable nature of producing symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, can these campaigners bear responsibility if more deaths occur due to Covid-19 following their visit?
Worse still, my church friends from the rural districts of Baram and Belaga respectively have noticed an increasing number of such activities on the ground at present.
Disappointingly, the ruling GPS, they alleged, have lined up many official functions and political meet-the-people sessions in the coming days and weeks.
It is learnt that politicians continue to organise ongoing meet-the-people sessions in the longhouses even late into the day.
The feedback only meant that the state government seems to leave an impression that its members are suffering from the alien hand syndrome.
The syndrome, a medical condition, whereby a person experiences their limbs acting seemingly on their own, without conscious control over the actions.
Akin to the syndrome, on one hand the government calls for its people to break the chain of Covid-19 infection by reducing public gatherings and inter-district travel.
On the other hand however, their officials continue to plan for activities that potentially involve a huge gathering of people.
Is the state government truly unaware of their oxymoronic actions?
If the answer is no, state government politicians must refrain from organising such events in the rural villages.
When state ministers, assemblymen and MPs continue to organise events in rural districts by launching projects and bringing outsiders as guests, how and when would the state bounce back from the pandemic then?
The state government and the opposition should reflect on their current actions as well.
Instead of potentially contributing to the inter-district spread of Covid-19, perhaps they should also take the trouble to read the travel advisory issued by the Baram district office three months ago.
The travel advisory called on the 30,000 residents in Baram not to travel to Miri district until further notice due to the worsening Covid-19 pandemic in the city.
Baram District Officer, Baru Tai, then had also issued written notices to chieftains of over 300 longhouses and settlements in the district advising them to inform all their villagers about the travel-ban advisory.
“All the residents are advised not to travel to Miri and Beluru districts as the Covid-19 situation there is getting more and more serious.
“Those who are in Miri and Beluru are also advised not to travel to Baram.
“This advice must be obeyed strictly as part of our risk-management strategy,” Tai had said in his written advisory.
The advisory sighted by The Vibes was addressed to all longhouse chiefs and community leaders in Baram, which is roughly the size of Johor.
As such, why can’t Sarawak politicians show restraint by abiding by the travel advisory? Are they truly virus-proof?
I understand while state elections will most likely be called soon and politicians are desperate to seize every opportunity to drum up support from their potential voters, the present pandemic atmosphere is still too dangerous for political activities.
If the Sarawak government needed a clearer hint, take a look at what happened across Sabah during its elections last year.
It is still not too late to mend your ways. – The Vibes, June 27, 2020
Stephen Then is a reporter at The Vibes, based in Miri
