By Zainal Epi - Free Malaysia Today,KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak is gearing up for an early state election as Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has called for a meeting of all Barisan Nasional (BN) state representatives this weekend.
The sources said the meeting was mainly to discuss an early state election.
The current term of the state administration ends middle of next year.
“Given the atmosphere and trend among the young and Chinese voters, it seems that the present state government may not wait till its term expires.
“An early state election is expected as a sort of a damage control measure so that BN, if its performance is not so good, may not lose too many seats.
“We are expecting the state election to be called after Hari Raya Puasa, that is, in September,” said one of the sources.
'Taib worried'
Sources said the upcoming state polls is crucial for BN, given the current atmosphere where DAP is gaining strength by the day in the state, more so after the Sibu parliamentary by-election last month.
They said Taib is getting worried that the Chinese voters in the state are now in the mood for change in keeping with the transformation of the political landscape in the Peninsula.
“Just like what happened in 2008, the Chinese feel that the time is right to vote out the current BN government,” a source said.
They said the weekend meeting is expected to discuss issues of concern to the BN, especially the voting trend in the urban areas where Chinese comprised the majority.
They said top on the list is how to “sell Taib” in the wake of the Sibu fiasco, where it was generally believed he was the main cause of the BN defeat.
However, the Ibans and the Malays are still loyal to BN despite grievances at Taib, said another source.
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