Incredible effort by the opposition in Sarawak

My apologies for not being able to update earlier since the 7 pm posting. I’d been swept off to celebrations after celebrations for the fantastic showing by the opposition.

From a lone oppositionist in the last state assembly, there are now 9! And they were mostly credible margins.

The results as it stands tonight:-

DAP 6 seats
Independents 1 seat
SNAP 1 seat
KeADILan 1 seat

Total: 9 seats

There are a number of seats with the opposition losing by 200 votes and below.
There may also be a few recounts in some constituencies.

Overall, most seats had its majority cut substantially by the opposition. Without doubt there has been a shift in the voting pattern. If this were a proportionate representation system, the total number of votes for the opposition would have translated into more seats – alas, it’s first-past-the-post.

SUPP, known to Kuchingites as the ‘crying party’ (every day, someone would cry — oh for heaven’s sake!) lost 8 out of its 19 contested seats. Many of its stalwarts lost to novices!

Despite all the brickbats, dirty tricks and media manipulation, this has been the Sarawak opposition’s finest moment — to date.

Looking at the Padungan fight, it’s been like David and Goliath. SUPP had all the resources, manpower, money and media behind them. SUPP played the race card. They played the ‘us vs. Semenanjung’ card. They even played the Islamic card, which fortunately these smart voters called their bluff and saw through their deceit. Still KeADILan made it through a smart offensive campaign, never once letting SUPP rest to break its serve.

Congratulations to those who won, and all who tried!

Analysis shall follow tomorrow.

Some results…

I was going to put up some photos of today’s voting, but it’s been a total bore.
As of late morning, only 20% had voted. This low turnout is unprecedented.
I think there’s some protest going on, against BN.
More analysis later.

DAP looks set to capture Bkt Asek and Meradong!

As for Padungan, the votes are slowly trickling in and KeADILan is leading by a very very slim margin. Here are some that I’ve gotten so far….

Saluran 1: KeADILan 76; BN 65; Rosak 1 (lead 11)
Saluran 2: KeADIlan 163; BN 144; Rosak 4 (lead 19)
Saluran 4 UPU Song Kheng Hai: KeADILan 198; BN 117; Rosak 1 (lead 81)
Saluran 5 UPU Song Kheng Hai: KeADILan 236; BN 99; Rosak 4 (lead 137)
Saluran 6 UPU Song Kheng Hai: KeADILan 185; BN 105; Rosak 0 (lead 80)

Current lead as of 7 pm: 328 (KeADILan)

The BN Promise to us

Our Deputy Prime Minister, Najib, has been very busy in Sarawak.

His job, it appears, is to threaten Sarawakians that if they don't vote ruling party, they will get nothing.

Today in all the papers, he said, "Only BN candidates will be recognised".

He brought the message as a member of the federal government.

There's another instance of using public money to bribe voters.

Samy Vellu, Works Minister has to run to Sarawak to escape the heat in Semanjung.

He is pictured with the infamous Ting Pek Khing, who once had the Bakun Dam project in his palm, until he lost it due to incompetence.

But not before logging the entire area of rainforests. All profits went to Ting, of course.

With 24 hours left to polling….

It's hours to the close of campaigning. In the last 24 hours, campaign workers are frantically printing, putting up posters and meeting people on the streets.

I received two leaflets today.

The first, was a simple dwi-lingual (Chinese and English) from KeADILan, highlighting BN's double-speak when using Islam to scare Chinese voters. It's self-explanatory.

The BN/SUPP candidate had an A3 double sided Chinese leaflet. I summarise for those who can't read Chinese…

 

"To all Chinese voters, please see clearly the real face of Semenanjung KEADILAN party who always have street demonstrations and create chaos.

1. Riots. KeADilan leaders like to hold demos, create disturbances create tensions among the people."

2. PKR promotes PAS and Islamic state.

3. Opposition is racist party.

4. Candidates have no principles.

5. Opposition has empty record.

Conclusion: People in Semenanjung have rejected keADIlan. So for the sake of our future generation's happiness, we shall not promote disturbances. We want peace."

Tonight's TV news and tomorrow's newspapers will carry all BN messages and news. The opposition didn't have their daily press conference today, but went around the city distributing leaflets and talking to people.

The bets in the underground as of earlier this morning, is in favour or BN/SUPP and a win of 3,000 and above.

USING EDUCATION AS A BRIBE

Even Education is not spared as a political tool of UMNO, SUPP, PBB.

Once, there was a survey done by UNIMAS, asking how many students actually wanted to attend the university as their first choice.
Only some 15% put up their hands.
Lecturers complain about having to push up their marks so that the failure rates aren’t that high.

No wonder education in Malaysia is the pits — because UMNO, SUPP, PBB politicians use it as a form of bribery.

More Bribes for the State elections

The 9MP is a development plan for the country, and does not involve politics.

SHAME on SUPP, UMNO and BN for misusing public money and their public office for elections

Just in case we’re half-blind

You can’t blame the fellow for trying.

Just in case you missed his photo on page 1, 2, 3, 4, ….. here’s a full colour spread!

CM – in his element! Give this guy a new hat please!

(Oh this is Eastern Times, the reincarnated former self was Sarawak Tribune. To think we felt bad, even just a little, when KL closed it down.)

How the Sarawak media is used against the opposition

This is how they do it in Sarawak. This is a liftout page. First page is the BN team. Look how beautiful those politicians look in their colour photos? You may not be able to see it but it lists all their academic credentials. Oh, the big one is the 'bai mau' (white cat), CM.

The next page is half a page for the opposition front – Barisan Bersatu Sarawak and Parti Keadilan Rakyat. The papers say it is the 'Shadow Cabinet' even though there isn't one. Note the quality of photos. No colour, grainy and purposely distorted. Instead of their academic achievements, they list things like "former driver at the Ministry of Welfare", "Loser in the XXXX elections". For Chinese candidates like Dominique Ng, the fake Shadow Cabinet allocates him a political assistant position. They don't even say he's a lawyer. 

Welcome to Sarawak BN politics.  

Police report lodged against Election Commission!

An independent election observers group, Mafrel, lodged a police report against the Election Commission (EC) over the date of certification for the electoral rolls to be used for this election. 

It seems that there are two different dates, and this is illegal.
Mafrel claimed that there were two contradictory validation dates for the electoral roll. The first was signed on March 7, but later the EC said the rolls are validated on March 16th and finalised on March 24.

Why are there two rolls then? God knows what happened in the weeks between the two dates!

Open letter from former Bandar Kuching MP

(This has been making its rounds today in Bandar Kuching) 

An Open Letter from Sim Kwang Yang to all dear friends in Kuching
All Voters in Padungan, fellow Kuchingites and young friends,

It is my earnest wish that all of you will come out in full force this Saturday (20.5.2006). Pitch in all your efforts to support Dominique Ng Kim Ho and to elect him as our State Assemblyman for the Padungan constituency.

This Ninth Sarawak State Election is an exceptional one, as it is more likely the last time the present Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud is leading his team of BN candidates to face the voters in Sarawak.

All eyes are on the succession of leaders at the BN pinnacle of power, both at the federal and state levels. There are as much expectance as there are uncertainties.      

It is timely and opportune for the voters in Padungan, to seize the moment to vote and send Dominique Ng into the Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak, to expose the political inequity, depravity and misdeeds. Sarawakians deserve the truths!

Dominique Ng Kim Ho is not battling SUPP or Lily Yong but the all dominant and mighty BN power that has ruled Sarawak for the last 25 years!

Dominique – Our voice for the people’s anguish
Sarawak is endowed with abundant natural resources and we should be the wealthiest state in Malaysia. However, inflation and sluggish market has caused sufferings for the Rakyat. Vote for Dominique Ng Kim Ho! He fights for social justice and democracy! He is our voice to highlight the people’s anguish and miseries in the State Assembly.

Political parties, candidates and wakil rakyat mirror our political wishes and ideals. They are mere political tools for the general populace. The rights and interests of the people must prevail over those of political parties and individuals in these parties.

I am therefore hopeful that all the members and supporters of all Parties, whether in the ruling coalition or the opposition, and particularly my friends in SUPP, to consider the transcending interests of our people, and vote for Dominique Ng Kim Ho. Whichever party one belongs to, the disparity and acute imbalance in political power has caused us all unnecessary woes.

Dominique – a true son of Padungan
Born in Ban Hock Road KMC Flats, Dominique is a proud son of Padungan. Since joining the opposition party struggle in 1983, he has contested in elections and lost. But Dominique has stood firm. His political conviction and faith in advocating democracy and rights for the masses never wavered. He is truly a down-to-earth political activist, spending the last 20 years working tirelessly for the people. Whichever political party we may belong, Dominique Ng deserves our support. Vote Dominique Ng to show that we encourage and treasure political workers like him.

Lily Yong has been given her time to serve the Padungan constituents. It is time for a change. Let us give Dominique Ng a chance to serve in the DUN. If he does not perform to our expectation, we can vote Lily Yong or any other to replace him at the next election. This is the benefit and meaning of democracy.

In the past state elections, SUPP has always faced stiff competitions from oppositions. But their candidates emerge triumphant.

This election will be no exception. BN will be victorious. For the 71 state constituencies, BN may lose in 2 or 3 constituencies. Even if SUPP should lose in Padungan, they will still be the second largest component party within BN Sarawak. Hence, should Dominique Ng Kim Ho wins, SUPP will remain impregnable. It can still represent the Chinese within the coalition BN government.

VOTE FOR JUSTICE, VOTE FOR KEADILAN.         
VOTE FOR DOMINIQUE NG KIM HO.

Yours sincerely,

Sim Kwang Yang
Former MP for Bandar Kuching
17.5.2006