MIRI – Sarawak PKR vice-chairman Dr Teo Yu Keng has blamed the absence of new voters – especially youths – for skewering the turnout in rural Sarawak to mainly comprise older voters who are afraid to rock GPS’ stranglehold.
He said his party could not break down the mental barriers that have gripped these older rural voters.
“This is a sad phenomenon,” he remarked to The Vibes.
“We thought we had made some breakthroughs as there were so many social and economic problems that they are facing.
“We thought they would opt for change. Sadly, most of these older generations in the end still opted for GPS as they are afraid of drastic change.”
Sarawak PKR failed to win any of the 27 seats it contested in the state polls held today.
According to latest reports, the party lost deposits in at least 22 of the constituencies. They include Asajaya, Beting Maro, Ba’kelalan, Balingian, Sadong Jaya, Serembu, Tellian, Bukit Saban, Tebedu, Lingga, Kakus, Ngemah, Simunjan, Batu Danau, Lambir, Bekenu, Satok, Opar, Murum, Marudi, Tupong and Katibas.
It managed to retain its deposits in two other seats it lost – Tarat and Saribas.
The DAP did not fare much better, losing deposits in ten constituencies – Pelagus, Bukit Goram, Stakan, Simanggang, Bukit Semuja, Kemena, Baleh, Machan, Meradong and Bawang Assan.
However, the party did manage to retain deposits for eight seats – Mambong, Batu Kitang, Batu Kawah, Pujut, Piasau, Repok, Pelawan and Bukit Assek.
Dr Teo also claimed that many were enticed by GPS handouts.
He said the majority of the 55% of eligible voters who turned out are from the middle and senior age groups.
“If the Undi18 groups had been able to vote, the outcome may have been very different,” he said, referring to the lowering of the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.
On September 3, the Kuching High Court ruled that the government must implement Undi18 and the related amendments by December 31 following a judicial review application.
It is widely speculated that GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, the Sarawak chief minister, had rushed a petition to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to lift the health emergency in the state on November 3 to push an early election date.
This effectively avoided the huge wave of new young voters who would only be enfranchised from January 1 next year.
“We can only look forward to the next parliamentary elections,” he said, referring to polls for Dewan Rakyat seats which must take place by September 2023.
Dr Teo also admitted that having too many opposition parties contesting same seats was a factor that caused them to lose against GPS. – The Vibes, December 18, 2021
