KUCHING, April 8 (Bernama) -- The intense campaigning in the 10th Sarawak state election will heat up further over the next two days, the final weekend before polling on April 16.
Candidates from the main political parties and supporters will be making a beeline to markets, local tamus (weekend markets) and eating centres to court votes for the 71 seats at stake.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who arrived in Sibu this evening to boost the BN campaign, will also be in Bintulu tomorrow where he is scheduled to launch Pusat Prasekolah Sedidik SEDC (a pre-schooling centre) at the Saik Ak Jaya longhouse.
Muhyiddin, who is BN deputy chairman, is also scheduled to head for the Bintulu main market and Balai Raya Sebauh to meet locals.
The push for votes is taking place amid much rancour between the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), the representative of the Chinese community in the state Barisan Nasional (BN) and the DAP.
The two parties are locked in battle to be the flagbearer of the Chinese community. They are in battle for 15 seats including 12 Chinese-majority constituencies.
The BN had fired the first salvo in the manifesto war, unveiling yesterday a nine-point plan and pledge to place Sarawak on track to become the richest state in Malaysia.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud chose the heavily Chinese-populated city of Sibu to launch the manifesto that outlined among others, the BN's focus on creating more business opportunities, land rights guarantee, job creation, education opportunities, improved living for the poor and preservation of the multi-cultural heritage in the state.
The DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and PAS unveiled a joint manifesto today under its tagline "Sarawak 4Change", leaving out the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) following the latter's fallout over seats with PKR.
The local-based SNAP has decided to leave it to their 26 candidates to distribute a two-page manifesto which traced the party's history and pledge to address native customary rights land issues and ensure a fairer job and business atmosphere.
"We had prepared a massive one but who will read so many pages? We have an abridged version which has been distributed to our candidates," said SNAP secretary-general Stanley Jugol when contacted.
In KUCHING, where the SUPP is seeking to retake Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang and Kota Sentosa, and defend Batu Kawah, the party's five candidates would be working together as a team, said first timer and well-known cardiologist Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Dr Sim, who is fielded in Pending, which has the biggest electorate of 29,488 voters, has set up a website www.realheart.com.my to outline his promise of "real heart, real action, real change.
"Give us five years and we will show you our report card," he said when met during his lunch break at Kenyalang Park, a mixed commercial area.
In Miri, the home of SUPP president Tan Sri Dr George Chan, party veteran Datuk Lee Kim Shin slammed the "Sarawak4Change" slogan, saying the opposition themselves were not practising change themselves and preferred to hurl baseless accusations, especially against the SUPP.
Speaking to Bernama after witnessing the opening of a covered walkway at the Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Tudan, he said the school was just one of the many examples of SUPP's work all these years to provide more education facilities.
"SJKC Tudan and all these have been built by SUPP. Not a single cent, not a single 'batu' (pebble) from them (opposition). All they do is talk and talk. Before they ask people to change, they should themselves change and not be a no action party," said Lee who is seeking a fourth term in Senadin.
State police chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh said today police had approved 200 ceramah permits and the big number reflected the record 213 candidates contesting.
A check with the Election Commission indicated that none of the candidates, including 41 independents, had sought to withdraw so far.
The deadline to do so is midnight tomorrow.
Source: http://www.mysinchew.com/node/55835
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