Cover image via Borneo Bulletin
Malaysia's eastern state, Sarawak will hold its eleventh state elections on 7 May, with more than 1.1 million voters registered and expected to drop their votes next week
The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly was dissolved on Monday, 11 April leaving the election candidates and parties with a 12-day campaigning period. The nominations were held last Monday, 25 April.
The last Sarawak State Election that was held five years ago on 16 April 2011, saw the nation's longest ruling party, Barisan Nasional retaining their two-third majority in the 71 seat assembly.
Sarawak has been one of BN's strongest constituencies over the years, with its oil fields, hydroelectric dams and rainforests which brings in major parts of the country's profits.
Image via Miri City Sharing
This year's election will see the highest number of candidates from Barisan Nasional with 82 representatives, followed by 40 from PKR, 31 from DAP, 13 from Amanah, 11 from PAS and the State Reform Party (STAR) respectively, 5 from the Sarawak Native People's Party and 35 independent candidates
As for the total number of registered voters, the eleventh Sarawak state elections would have a total of 1,138,650 voters, with 131,881 people from the age group of 21-29.
While the opposition coalition is struggling to put up a gathered front, things take an interesting turn as DAP and PKR are running against each other in six different constituencies, namely, Batu Kitang, Mambong, Simanggang, Ngemeh, Murum and Mulu.
Image via Malay Mail Online
The main purpose of elections are to elect the right leaders that have the capability to govern a state or constituency and best provide for the people
Image via Living Travel
In line with that, Malaysian opinion research firm, Merdeka Center has conducted an extensive survey on Sarawakian voters and their concerns on state issues
815 voters spread across all 31 parliament constituencies were selected for this survey that was conducted earlier this year.
Image via Merdeka Center
Listed below are some of the major takeaways from the survey that offers a clearer picture of what Sarawakians think about the condition of their state:
Major parts of Sarawak still remains largely disconnected and underdeveloped compared to other places in the country
Image via Joshua See
1) Is Sarawak heading in the right direction?
When asked about what they think of the direction of the state based on current circumstances, 55% opined that Sarawak is "somewhat heading in the right direction", while 32% think that the state is "strongly heading towards the wrong direction".
Surprisingly, the respondents that think the state is heading in the right direction named development and infrastructure as the main reason behind it. As for the remaining 32%, they cited negative economic concerns as the reason instead.
2) The top four most pressing issues that need to be addressed by the state government immediately:
**Economic issues:**
– The voters are concerned with the recent price hikes, increasing cost of living, abandoned rural areas, lack of affordable housing, and [poverty](http://says.com/my/news/1-in-5-sabah-bumiputera-households-are-poverty-stricken) problems in the state.
**Development and infrastructure:**
– Voted as the second most worrying issue in Sarawak, the respondents mentioned the poor condition of roads, drainage, inefficiency of public transportation, exploitation of forests (illegal logging), [dilapidated schools](http://says.com/my/news/collapsing-buildings-and-leaky-roofs-the-horrible-state-of-rural-schools-in-sarawak) and infrastructure.
**Administration- state government management:**
– Issues like poor governance, fair treatment to non-bumiputeras, leadership issues, transparency and corruption among government servants and politicians were raised by the voters.
**Social issues and public safety:**
– Crime and public safety, social ills among youths, influx of illegal immigrants on job opportunities, rallies and demonstrations were also mentioned.
Image via The Borneo Post
The survey was concluded with a number of information including how the Sarawakian respondents think that they are not being fairly treated by Putrajaya
Image via Merdeka Center
With that said, it is common knowledge that elections come with a set of idealistic manifestos laid down by all parties running for elections
Image via Hornbill Unleashed
The public declaration is often very visionary and aims to solve all the problems a constituency has been facing.
For the 11th Sarawak State elections, the three main competing parties have come up with their very own manifestos, namely:
Under their campaign, 'Give TeamAdenan A Chance', BN has pinned down a set of 15 promises:
Image via New Straits Times
Image via Astro Awani
Image via Astro Awani
Barisan's direct competitor, opposition coalition's DAP, on the other hand, has a 10 promise plan with a campaign that focuses on policy reforms for "real change":
**Here's the list of DAP's pledges:**
1) [Free public bus service](http://says.com/my/news/sarawak-cm-challenges-dap-to-provide-free-bus-services-in-their-states-first)
2) Equitable sharing of forest resources
3) Sharing of land by all
4) Job creation
5) Enhance Internet coverage
6) Improve security
7) Transparency in governance
8) Multi-racial civil service
9) Autonomy in taxation
10) Education autonomy
Image via Sarawak Voice
Wanting to win their first ever seat in Sarawak, PAS's election manifesto is a more generalised one which includes the promise of fighting for oil and gas royalty
**Here's a complete list of PAS Sarawak's Tawaran Sejatera Untukmu Manifesto:**
1) Safeguard the rights of Sarawakians
2) Safeguard the rights of Sarawak's diverse races, cultures and religion
3) Fight for 20% oil and gas royalty
4) Ensure basic infrastructure for the whole of Sarawak
5) Listen to the people's plights
PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang presents the party's manifesto to Lambir candidate, Mohammad Arifiriazul Pajio
Image via New Straits Times
With the election just two days away, predictions and analysis have been pouring in from local political analysts and the masses
One such analysis came from University of Tasmania's Asia Institute director James Chin who thinks that Sarawak BN's chief and chief minister Adenan Satem is on the right track to winning this year's elections.
**"I'm very confident that Adenan will win by at least a two-thirds majority.**The reason is rather simple, as you know and the readers, too, they have added 11 new seats the Sarawak election this time," said James, as quoted by Malaysiakini.
Image via Berita Harian
While many have criticised Adenan's move to ban the entry of prominent opposition figures from Sarawak, James thinks that it has worked to his advantage
PKR Vice President Nurul Izzah Anuar is one of the many prominent politicians that have been barred from entering Sarawak
Image via AFP via Channel News Asia
Aside from James' prediction, a report by Channel News Asia revealed that Sarawakians at grass-roots level are also rooting for Adenan thanks to his strong policies to protect the rural community
Image via Nigel Dickinson
Based on those predictions, Adenan's popularity in Sarawak could be attributed to these eight reasons:
As for opposition's DAP, they have been banking on realistic changes that include free bus services and eradication of poverty to win the hearts of people
Image via Free Malaysia Today
