PKR can Win Batang Ai

The contesting Political Parties

Barisan Nasional vs PKR : The Batang Ai seat N29 was held by BN through PRS - the late Dublin Unting. The by-election resulted from his untimely demised. The last time around SNAP contested the DUN seat against BN and now it is PKR representing PR.

PKR is a new entity in Batang Ai. Being new has its advantages and disadvantages. PKR however is not new to Sarawak, having been around for 10 years and finally won a seat in Padungan through YB Dominique Ng.

Advantage
voters are eager to know what the party struggle is. For PKR this is an opportunity for them to explain what they represent politically and what are their ideas to develop and lead Sarawak.
voters have an option of which party to choose from provided PKR can give the voters the impression that it is serious about winning Batang Ai and give BN the stiffest by-election of their life.

The young Dayak opinion are split in many categories but on the whole they want to see change in government and a leap frog change in the future of Sarawakian and Dayak. PKR give them a possible platform to initiate change and draw up new development program.
PKR is no less experience than BN in running an election
Candidates

Politician and political camp with SELF INTEREST make a big issue out of the candidate selection. But the voters who are having a higher level objective would like to see a reasonable candidate - electable means a person who takes responsibility and leadership role seriously.

To most, the party political platform and what they stand for is the most important. In Batang Ai, it means inroad for PKR in rural Sarawak and that would pave a way for PKR in the next State Election.

Election Strategies
This is a delicate balance in this category. BN strategy is nothing less than winning Batang Ai. It seems that PKR election theme would be Batang Ai must be won for PKR to accelerate their influence in rural Sarawak.

The competencies of Election managers and teams would be telling - in that efficiency and effectiveness over clumsiness and wasteful with time and money.

Mobility
BN would have advantage over mobility with the whole government machinery, vehicles, personnel and helicopters at their disposal.

PKR would be able to even this mobility through similar road and river transport mean but the source of such equipment might have to be extracted from other parts of sarawak. Good news is, not all Dayak are for Bn and thus their boats and vehicles would also be made available.

Message Penetration
BN used Radio / TV / News print media -at the snap of their finger. PKR would have to be innovative with the blogging team going to the interior and create platform that ensure a close rapport between voters and PKR offer.

The meet the people session would be inensive and require a lot of speakers within and from outside of Batang Ai.

Vote Buying / threats
BN is cooking “Instant Noodles project” and from the sky “Project Kilat - MRP” . All these tools are effective in poor Dayak areas but only to an extent. Batang Ai has shown great resolved by backing the Opposition time and time again. Now, I would expect a more intense resistance from the opposition votes with outside of batang Ai influence through their children and relatives working in West Malaysia and Singapore.

When the PKR political concept is well explain and accept by the people - BN will suffer the same fate in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Trengganu. BN money willbe poured and accepted but the return in term of vote would be minimal. It is mind over matters.

Young Voters
This sector of voters below 40 years old is about 35% of the total vote. But if this voters is active in canvassing for vote on behalf of PKR, then the outcome would be highly affected by their effort. This group of voters is crucial and effective in influencing the voting pattern, especially those with strong meaning of the needs to change Dayak future.

VIP Speakers
This is very subjective - BN must be careful not to send VIP that are unpopular to Batang Ai voters. Instead of helping the BN cause they could actually push potential voters away with their brand of less than direct politic.

VIP from PKR is also a risk because we cannot know the Batang Ai voters reaction to those speaking in Malay or telling them West Malaysia stories. But PKR would have a pool of good speakers if the Dayak Symposium in Sibu is an indicator. There local speakers should be mobilize through the length and breath of Sarawak.

Political Idea for Sarawak
Batang Ai voters and the people of sarawak is expecting a lot from PKR on this. PKR must show that it has alternative solution, new approach to sarawak problem. PKR must also give clear direction of their struggle and what it mean and how would Sarawak people benefit from their party political agenda and platform.

Critical success factor
Dayabaru are the critical success factor. How?

Looking at the blog reply, some of you are really committed to the Opposition cause. You know the meaning of the opposition struggle and knowing what needed to be done by your self. Eg. Donating money to support PKR campaign.

Unfortunately, there are some of Dayakbaru who can see the problem but cannot relate to their own role in tackling the problem. What this mean is:-

The by-election is link to you. You are interested on the detail, process and outcome. But when it comes to what are you going to do to ensure Opposition victory, you do not see your role or you do not want to take part in ensuring the victory. You do not want to spend your time and money to help PKR win Batang Ai.

That is a common syndrome - you are DETACH from reality. You stay away from the important task - that is your own involvement. If that happen and dayakbaru do not take a direct participation, then BN can win easily.

Conclusion
How many of you Dayakbaru are committed and have plan to get directly involved in ensuring for PKR victory in Lubok Antu. PKR victory mean, Sarawakian would have a good chance of replacing the BN government of Sarawak with PKR. This would mean Dayakbaru can participate in mapping a new approach for Dayak future.

Are you “detach” from Dayak of Batang Ai by-election or are you the one who have the commitment to deliver the seat to PKR. Talk is sweet and the doing is bitter. Nevertheless, Victory will make everything sweet - if not sweetest.

Change We MUST, Make it a sweet victory for all Malaysians

Malaysiakini
21/03/09