KUCHING – Facing another election, all within 12 months of last December’s state election, seems to have fatigued Sarawakians.
“Now with GE15 (the 15th general election) tentatively slated to be held during the rainy season in November…it is also a put-off,” political observer and pundit Datuk Peter Minos told The Vibes.
“I do not see any excitement among the electorate. The mood is very low-key. Many had wished for the general election to be held after the monsoon season, (whether) in February or March next year.
“Moreover, (GE15) being held almost soon after the Budget 2023 announcement, where the state was only allocated RM5.4 billion, has also dampened the sentiments of the voters here.”
What voters hear from politicians most of the time, he said, is bickering and rhetoric as well as infighting and poor governance at the federal level.
The analyst pointed out that the people are just recovering from the two-year Covid-19 pandemic, which had badly affected the nation.
Their current focus is to get back on track and sort out their bread-and-butter issues first, including gaining employment – leaving politics and the ballot box as the last things on their mind.
However, despite public misgivings over the upcoming polls, the Bidayuh leader hopes there will not be heavy rains and flooding on polling day.
“It is my wish for voters to go to the polls,” he said, adding that all safety measures must be provided by the Election Commission.
“Voters must exercise their right as citizens to choose their government, come hail or high water,” he said.
‘Thumping’ win for GPS?
On another note, Minos also predicted that Sarawakians will give the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition a “thumping” victory, seeing that peninsula-based outfits, including opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, will be ignored.
“The voters here embrace the ‘Sarawak First’ sentiment.
“It is already ingrained in the minds of Sarawakians that they have been treated unfairly at the federal level. There are many areas of want, and voters will look up to the GPS coalition to put things right for them.”
Minos said Sarawakians see GPS as their guardian and true leader.
Parties such as DAP and PKR have little appeal to voters, he added.
Even Parti Sarawak Baru is struggling to obtain support compared to GPS, which has provided the perception of a strong, disciplined and united front.
“The coalition has a track record to show, going back many years,” he added, noting that they command all Bidayuh-majority parliamentary seats barring Mas Gading.
Mas Gading is held by DAP’s Mordi Bimol, who won the seat in the 2018 general election in a straight fight against Datuk Anthony Nogeh Gumbek of the Progressive Democratic Party with a 3,024 vote majority.
The parliamentary seat of Serian is being held by Datuk Richard Riot of Sarawak United People’s Party, and Puncak Borneo is held by Datuk Willie Mongin who had recently jumped ship from Bersatu to a GPS component party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu.
“I am confident Mas Gading will be won by GPS in GE15,” Minos said. – The Vibes, October 15, 2022
