Sibu results indicate Pek Moh must go.......

Barisan Nasional's loss in the Sibu parliamentary by-election yesterday is a clear message that Sarawak's Chinese voters feel that it is time for Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to go, said Monash University political analyst Professor James Chin.He says this is among the three lessons to be learnt from the Sibu contest.

"First of all, the majority of Chinese voters are sending a clear message to Taib that he must go. I think they felt Taib has overstayed in holding the post of (Sarawak) Chief Minister," he said. Taib has occupied the post since 1981, the same year that former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad came to power. Chin added that the Chinese voters there are also fed-up with the SUPP.

"If you look, most of the SUPP leaders are more than 60 years-old. Even the late Robert Lau has been occupying Sibu for four terms, or 20 years, and that is a long time.

"SUPP has failed to garner support of the younger Chinese community, and they have failed to produce capable young leaders. SUPP has remained stagnant over the years with the old leaders. I think the Sibu voters realise that and they wanted a change."

The Monash academician also said the third signal sent by the Sibu Chinese community is that they are ready as with their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia to abandon the BN. The March 8 general election saw a major shift in the Chinese votes in Peninsular Malaysia in support of the opposition.

"Now, this is also becoming a reality among the Sibu Foochow Chinese community. They have become more politically aware," he said.

Poser on state elections

Chin said the loss of the Sibu by-election may prompt Taib to postpone calling state elections which were originally expected to take place this year, till next year. Traditionally, Sarawak holds its state elections separately from the general election.

"I may be second guessing, as it is difficult to speculate when the state elections will be held. But I think following the Sibu defeat, Taib will coordinate the state elections to be called during the same time as with the federal elections," he said. He stressed that the poor showing in Sibu makes it unlikely to take place this year.

Sarawak will need to hold its state elections, to get a new mandate on the state government, latest by July 2011 as the last polls took place in May 2006. That year, rising anti-government sentiments in the state and Taib's declining popularity were noted as a factor for the BN losing ground despite retaining 62 of the total 71 seats. Jeniri Amir, a Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) analyst, said that the by-election results looks bad on the BN as it shows a shift in voter sentiment away from the ruling party.

Goodies not good enough

Jeniri, who is of Iban descent, agrees with Chin that voters, especially the Chinese, are weary of BN and SUPP's election promises, which they have failed to keep."DAP's victory is a result of Wong being seen as vocal, unlike Lau. Also the BN candidate and his uncle (Robert Lau Sr) are not popular, following the domination of the family business (in the local economy)," he said.

The Unimas academician pointed out that BN's election bait of bountiful rewards has failed to buy the Chinese voters' ballot. He believes such a strategy is only temporary and will not have long term impact. It is clear, he says, that the BN has access only to the financial muscle, but no insight into the feelings of the Sibuan Chinese.

"BN cannot use this method, but in turn must be sincere and give long term solutions to attract Chinese voters back. As the Chinese voters are self-sufficient and well to do, such awarding of instant projects is (viewed as) derogatory," he said.

"There is a need to look after the voters' feelings," he said.

He also said the by-election result deals a blow to Taib, for not being able to handle local issues like unemployment, flood mitigation matters and the issue of Native Customary Rights land. Jeniri warns that if the BN and SUPP fail to understand and address these issues, they will face the same problems with the Chinese electorate that MCA and Gerakan are facing in the Peninsular today.- Hafiz Yatim and Salhan K Ahmad

source:malaysiakini

One thing is clear that the Chinese community is consistent throughout Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

First, they are ready for change.

Second, money alone cannot buy their votes.

Najib's, "I help you and you help me" philosophy will never work. As Tuan Guru Nik Aziz says,‘Umno, BN beli undi macam beli ayam itik’........

cheers.