SUPP defeat in Sibu and risk losing in the Bidayuh areas

Although it was only a by-election defeat but it was a serious setback for the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and the Barisan Nasional.

Newspapers reports and comments from the BN leaders all mentioned that it was a small majority for DAP candidate Wong Ho Leng.

But let us all accept the fact that it was not just a 398 votes majority that DAP candidate polled but 3, 633 votes. Remember that in the 2008 general election DAP lost by 3,235 votes. So in the just concluded by-election DAP won with 398 votes and at the same time was able to win back the 3,235 votes it lost to BN in 2008 election. Thus, with 3,235 votes the party won back plus 398 votes majority in the May 16 by-election meaning DAP has won 3,633 votes back from BN. Isn’t it bigger that the majority BN won in 2008 general election?

DAP’s victory in May 16 by-election should be taken seriously by BN’s leadership especially SUPP and the State Government.

The government has to realise that even with massive injection of money worth almost half a-billion ringgit and the promise of more to come for various development projects and other goodies pledged, BN still lost in the by-election.

Robert Lau Hui Yew secured 18,477 votes as against Wong Ho Leng 18,845 votes in one of the most hotly contested by-election.

The May 16 by-election was held after the death of Robert Lau Hoi Chew on April 9.

Many including BN strongman agreed that the defeat it is a serious setback for the BN especially for SUPP.

“It’s just to show that SUPP is no more popular among the people. The party will be finished in the coming State general election,” said a political observer who has been critical about SUPP.

More bitter especially after all federal ministers including Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin put their hearts into the campaign.

BN leadership especially SUPP must be wondering what went wrong with their campaigns, their promises and their policies. Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has said it was the wrong campaign strategies that caused the defeat.

There was also report in national newspapers saying that Taib and his administration have been one of the core issues so much so that Taib appeared to be a liability.

It was also said that Najib had advised Taib not to campaign in the town areas, otherwise more Chinese would vote for DAP.

DAP has accused Taib’s politics of development as “politics of discrimination, nepotism and corruption”.

The policy on land and NCR land, the awarding of timber concessions and government contracts were examples of injustice and unfairness. And even Wisma Sanyan – the tallest building in town, which Taib’s brother owns – also became an issue.

And SUPP, being part of the government, is also to be blamed for the discriminatory policies in particular against the ordinary Chinese, while the wealthy and influential Chinese became richer.

It was also reported that the Ibans in the rural areas were badly affected by these policies. The lack of infrastructure, the absence of clean water and electricity supply in some of the 110 longhouses were examples of neglect.

The rejection especially among the Chinese voters in Sibu is an eye-opener for both the Iban and the Bidayuh or even the Orang Ulu. More troubles is expected to come for SUPP in the next State election.

The Bidayuh began to show their protest against SUPP even before the Sibu by-election when they demanded the Chairmanship of the Padawan Municpal Council (MPP) and the deputy minister post left vacant by the late Datuk Robert Lau to be given to the community.

SUPP is at risk losing the three constituencies (two State and one Parliament) in the Bidayuh area if the party leaders ignored the Bidayuh demand this time.

The two State seats under SUPP are Bengoh and Opar and Serian parliamentary seat.

More that three decades the Bidayuh has been neglected by SUPP. The party and its leaders did not do enough for the BIdayuh in its constituencies and that was why still many villages are still without the basic facilities like clean treated water supply, electricity and good roads.

The YBs in SUPP has been complaining that nothing much that they can do as their requests and suggestions are not being heard by the top leadership of the party.

In Penrissen, for example although just about 40 kilometres away from the city the villagers after Kampung Bratan at Mile 14 Jalan Puncak Borneo are still without clean treated water supply. The same happen to many villagers in Opar constituency and Serian Parliamentary constituency.

On electricity supply, still many Bidayuh villages are living without it. In this modern world of ICT, almost all the Bidayuh villages are still without the telephone lines. Luckily they have the wireless telecommunication facilities which enable the villagers to use their mobile phones.

But sadly most Bidayuh in their village are not accessible to internet because the broad band coverage is not up to satisfaction.

As such the Bidayuh will say “No To SUPP” in the coming State election, which is less than a year from now unless SUPP change and take good care of the Bidayuh.