By Stephanie Sta Maria and FMT TeamKUALA LUMPUR: Simmering beneath the placid Sibu facade is a tale of coded streets, smoke-filled backrooms, blood pacts, bookies and trade-deals.
In what is seen as a subtle below the line battle for the Sibu parliamentary seat which fell vacant on April 9 following the demise of its MP and deputy transport minister Robert Lau Hoi Chew, the inside word is that even before nominations this Saturday (May 8) , the deal would have been sealed.
And if the word on-the-street is anything to go by, it will be Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) candidate Robert Lau Hui Yew (better known as Robert Lau Junior) who will be walking in his uncle’s shoes.
A Sibu city councillor and lawyer, the fresh faced 44-year-old heir apparent to Sibu’s political dynasty is of a milder demeanour than his uncle, who is believed to have held a tight reign over the workings of both, the boardroom and underworld, in this logging county.
But younger Robert’s youthful disposition and people-friendly disposition is expected to cut across Sibu's 54,695 voters who comprise of 67 percent Chinese, 22 percent Ibans, 10 percent Malays and the remainer others.
The Lau clan have an extensive known commercial reach with deals in timber, log exports, plywood manufacturing, oil palm plantations and shipping.
According to political analyst James Chin, Sibu is Foochow county and timber tycoons like the Lau's rule.
James Chin
“The Foochows,” he said are “parochial and only care about local issues.”
“The Sibu by-election is very different from the Hulu Selangor by-election because it is dominated by the Foochows.
“They are very parochial and only care about localised issues. This is a fight between the Foochows,” he told FMT.
Coded streets
According to one insider even the streets in Sibu have a ‘loyalty code.
“You don’t monkey around with the people here and the DAP knows this. At the end of the day, its going to be the bookies and the odds offered that will determine the winner,” said the insider.
He added that there were rumours that Foochow ganglords from the peninsular had descended in Sibu.
“There’s also word that opposition leaders from the peninsular are being discouraged from being in the frontline in Sibu. The is seen as localised war. They don’t want outside interference,” said the insider.
Against this tapestry is DAP Sarawak’s decision to field veteran election campaigner Wong Ho Leng, 50.
Questions are being asked if this is a wise move. Chin doesn’t think so.
“I don’t think it is going to go down well... the DAP may have fielded the wrong candidate.
“It should have chosen a younger, more professional looking and good looking candidate.
“The last one makes a difference! Why do you think people are talking about Hannah Yeoh?” quipped Chin alluding to the Subang Jaya state assemblywoman.
He said due to its internal problems, DAP had no choice but to choose Wong, a lawyer who is also Bukit Assek assemblyman
“This won't make the Foochows happy as they will consider DAP greedy for more seats since Wong is also Bukit Assek state assemblymen.
“They will also complain that instead of taking care of drainage issues, Wong will be busy flying off to KL,” he said.
Sibu is in fact a tycoon town, with both parliamentary and state seats held by timber lords, according to Chin.
“BN has no advantage except for the money they will throw,” he said.
Corruption
In the 2008 general election SUPP battled it out in a three-cornered fight with DAP and PKR, winning with a majority of 3,232 votes.
SUPP, one of Sarawak’s oldest party, is predominately Chinese and essentially comprise timber tycoons.
Sibu town
It is also seen as too close and subservient to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.
“In Sibu, PBB is the Umno and SUPP is the MCA. Right now, SUPP is being seen as kowtowing to PBB.
“In this scenario what the DAP needs to do is to concentrate its campaign on the alleged corruption and business domination of Taib's family.
“Only then will it have a strong chance of winning. It will lose if it fights on local issues because it doesn't have enough resources,” reasoned Chin.
He however said to DAP’s advantage is a local fact that the “Foochows don't regard the parliamentary seat as important as the state seat”.
“DAP may benefit from this fact and the effect of the March 2008 political tsunami. West Malaysians have thrown their lot behind Pakatan and PKR and East Malaysians will likely do the same with DAP.
“BN has no real advantage influence here besides the money it can throw around,” said Chin.
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