Chinese voters to decide in Bengoh

BARISAN NASIONAL(BN) may lose Bengoh seat in forthcoming State election if the turnout is low and the Chinese voters decided not to come out to cast their votes, says a political analyst.
He said the constituency is a black area and required BN’s representative hard work to win the voters’ heart.
“There are too many issues which need to be resolved in the area as soon as possible, and land issues are taking the lead,” he said.
He said there are 21,396 registered voters in the constituency of which 5,752 are Chinese voters while the 14, 176 are the Bidayuh voters. The total number of Malay voters are 1, 420 and 48 are other races.
“If the turnouts are poor and the Chinese voters decided not to come out to cast their votes, the scenario which is expected to happen, then SUPP will lose the seat,” he said.
He said it too risky for SUPP in the constituency because the current sentiments in the area are that the Bidayuh are very angry with SUPP and are against the party contesting in the constituency.
“Furthermore the young voters are more towards the opposition and with good candidate the opposition have the chance to win the seat,” he added.
Another issue drummed up in the constituency was the allegation that SUPP’s representative Dr Jerip Susil only start to move lately to disburse his Minor Rural Project (MRP) fund, while many villages claimed they had not received any fund from Dr Jerip for many years.
Meanwhile the Chinese in the constituency like in many other constituencies are also not in favour of SUPP, which they claimed has failed to fight for the Chinese interest.
In the last State Election Dr Jerip won with 3,988 votes majority. He garned 7,540 votes while his opponent from Sarawak National Party (SNAP) Manggan Ngandok garned 3,552 votes. The turnout was only 56.9 percent.
In the forthcoming State general election the opposition are hoping that more Bidayuh voters will come out to exercise their rights.
“If the Bidayuh voters turnout increases and the Chinese decides otherwise then there is where the opposition candidate will win,” he added.
In the last election Dr Jerip lost in Siniawan, Braang area and one village in the Siburan.
Meanwhile in the last Parliamentary election, the results shows that BN’s candidate in the Mambong constituency Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) lost in Krokong, Siburan, Braang area, two villages in upper Padawan and one village in Penrissen.
Dr Dawos garned 14, 182 votes and won with 6,657 votes’ majority against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate who managed 7,525 votes. The turnout was 61.7 percent.
Dr Jerip was however confident that the people in Bengoh will still vote for BN because the coalition has good track record.
The two-term assemblyman was disturbed by the negative news portals report on him, which he said has jeopardised his reputation.
He claimed that the reports were not reflective of the work and services he had done for the constituency which he represented since 2001.
Dr Jerip also had said that it was not true he has not been visiting his constituents in the past four years, adding he has been moving around every week in his constituency.
If Dr Jerip is re-nominated to defend the seat for BN and PKR decides to field a young professional who is also from Penrissen then it will be a tussle between uncle and nephew.
Dr Jerip hails from Kampung Karu while the nephew is from Kampung Bratan, whose late father is also from Kampung Karu but married to woman from Kampung Bratan.
The aspiring candidate who is currently working with a multi-national firm in Kuala Lumpur when contacted said if given the ‘green light” by PKR leadership to contest he will take the challenge.
“I have been moving in the area for more than a year and the support I received on the ground was very encouraging but as of now I still can’t confirm whether to stand or not because I still have to wait for the confirmation from PKR’s leadership,” he added.
Meanwhile sources said there are at least four personalities in the constituency had expressed their keenest to contest the seat if SUPP decides not to re-nominate Dr Jerip.
The four are an accountant, a former police officer, a customs officer and a bank officer.
Of the four personalities, two of them said they have not been approached nor contacted by any of SUPP or BN’s leaders on the matter.
Dr Jerip on several occasion had said the party’s leadership has confirmed his candidacy but the party leaders including SUPP’s president Tan Sri Dr George Chan and the secretary general has also said there might be last minute changes on the candidates’ list.
Dr Chan had also said seven to eight new faces will be fielded, hence some old faces has to give way.