MIRI – Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is said to have an election war chest of RM82 million or RM1 million per state seat as it heads to the polls on December 18.
Sources familiar with the matter told The Vibes today that the GPS election machinery in each of the 82 state constituencies can obtain up to RM1 million (for each candidate) to fund their campaigns.
It is learnt that GPS component parties in the rural areas are already block-booking all the land and river transportations, while certain high-profile GPS candidates have helicopters they can hire at short notice.
The cost of these chartered helicopters could be up to RM4,000 per hour.
“GPS candidates and party workers have already block-booked longboats, speedboats, land-cruisers, four-wheel drives and lorries in the rural localities.
“They are chartering these vehicles from all the state government departments and federal government agencies as well as from the longhouse folk.
“The GPS candidates and their election workers are also paying local villagers to go around putting up GPS banners, flags and posters in every longhouse and village.
“The GPS ground machineries have been going around doing their tasks even before the Election Commission (EC) announced the polling dates,” said a source.
The Vibes recently asked Telang Usan incumbent Dennis Ngau if it is right for political candidates to use government vehicles for election purposes.
He said the use of government facilities are for the needs of the EC teams.
“The use of government vehicles are arranged by the district office and resident office to help the EC teams who have to set up base in the rural polling stations.
“These government vehicles are not for our (GPS) use. The arrangements are to help EC, not to help the candidates.”
However, sources said the hired transport is required to display the GPS logo.
Before this, GPS controlled 68 of the 82 seats. Sarawak DAP (five), Parti Sarawak Bersatu (six), Bersatu (1), Independent (1) and one vacant seat in Pujut.
The Pujut seat was declared vacant three years ago after its incumbent assemblyman Ting Tiong Choon was disqualified following a dispute in court over his Australian citizenship.
Sarawak heads to the polls on December 18, with nomination day on December 6 and early voting on December 14. – The Vibes, November 26, 2021
