KUCHING: Campaigning by parties and candidates contesting in the 15th general election (GE15) in Sarawak is still calm and rather slow.
The installation of candidate posters and party flags, however, appears to be quite aggressive in urban areas, but slow in rural areas.
A survey conducted by Utusan Malaysia found that DAP has started campaigning vigorously in two seats in the city, namely Stampin and Bandar Kuching.
Seen participating in the “walkabout” campaign in the Stampin and Kuching constituencies is DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.
Campaigning in the hot seat of Puncak Borneo contested by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Datuk Willie Mongin, Pakatan Harapan-PKR’s Diog Dios and Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s (PSB) Iana Akam is also relatively slow.
Meanwhile, some of Willie’s staunch supporters had expressed disappointment that they were not given a role in the campaign as they claimed that Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) was in control of the incumbent’s campaign.
Several supporters claimed that only the election machinery from PBB Mambong, Tarat and Serumbu state constituencies were mobilised and used for campaigning, while Willie’s was “rested”.
Because of this, one supporter alleged that a number of Willie’s supporters had defected to support Pakatan Harapan-PKR and PSB candidates.
“If this situation continues in the second week of the campaign, there is a high possibility that Willie’s supporters will switch their support to PKR or PSB candidates
“Willie is already under strict control and even in the briefing Willie apologised to his supporters and asked them to understand the situation during the election and for his supporters to respect the leadership and the PBB machinery.”
He also claimed that Willie supporters were not allowed to get involved in the campaign except to advise family members, relatives and friends to vote for the GPS candidate.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said campaigning in Puncak Borneo was going smoothly with the cooperation of all three assemblymen, including Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil and Serumbu assemblyman Miro Simuh.
The Tarat assemblyman refuted any allegation that there was an element of sabotage among four other individuals who previously also lobbied to become GPS candidates for the Puncak Borneo seat, namely Rangen Jamang, Wejok Tomik, Neuclos Jub and Wilson Ahon.
“That’s just people’s talk and I believe there is no sabotage. Things can be discussed and resolved because they are in one family (all in PBB).”
Sagah was also confident that Willie would retain the seat he once won on the PKR ticket in the 2018 general election before he joined Bersatu and then PBB recently.
