A Race To The Finish In Sarawak

By Tham Choy Lin

KUCHING, April 14 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional's (BN) offensive rolled on unrelentlessly as the 10th Sarawak state election goes into the eve of polling on Friday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak went through another gruelling day, visiting Miri before he again ventured into the interior, including a stopover into the remote Ba'Kelalan post in the Bario highlands to meet the people.

Najib reiterated his confidence that the people of Sarawak would return the BN to power and the state would continue to transform and become a more prosperous state.

For the first time, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the man at the centre of attacks by the opposition, has also revealed his departure plan.

Taib, who has led the state for three decades, told the Chinese community here last night that he would retire within two years, Sin Chew Daily reported.

Speaking at the inaugural dinner of the Kuching Division Community Association, he urged the Chinese community to think deeply and continue supporting the BN.

The tussle for the Chinese-dominated seats, located in urban Kuching, Miri and Sibu is a key battle between the BN's state Chinese component, Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), and the DAP.

The outcome is a test of the SUPP's survival as a voice for the Chinese masses in the state. The SUPP lost six Chinese seats to DAP in 2006.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin met over 200 representatives of Chinese organisations here Thursday, urging them to support the BN to ensure their representation in the government and help make Sarawak more progressive and successful.

The BN is confident of repeating a two-thirds win despite facing its hardest resistance from the opposition that is helmed by peninsula-based Parti Keadilan Rakyat, DAP and PAS.

In 2006, the state BN coalition captured 62 seats in the 71-member state assembly and its tally increased to 63 after the crossover of a Sarawak National Party (SNAP) assemblyman.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim cut short his visit to a longhouse in Kapit yesterday, according to witnesses, after he was asked by the longhouse chief about a sex video and his Omega watch.

The de facto PKR leader, whose party is gunning for 49 seats, today faced more revelations against him from Malaysia-Today blog founder Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

The blogger said in a televised interview that after Anwar's bluff to take over the government on Sept 16, 2008, the former deputy prime minister had lost his credibility and failed to become an effective leader.

Meanwhile, the police are advising voters to come early for polling on Saturday because sunny weather is expected in the morning and rain in the evening until early May.

Postal voting for the police and security personnel wrapped up today after two days.