By Joe Tawie
Sarawak’s Batang Ai state seat by-election will see a straight fight between the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Barisan Nasional. Former five-term MP for Lubok Antu, Jawah Gerang, of PKR is to face BN candidate Malcolm Mussen.
Johnny Chuat, an Iban blogger and publisher of an Iban magazine, who entererd the nomination centre at about 9am failed to submit his papers as an independent.
Coming out of the centre, he wore a PKR shirt and met his supporters, telling them to support Jawah Gerang.
There were some tense moments when objections were raised against the two candidates, but the returning officer, Nelson Mujah Girie overruled the objections and accepted both nominations.
The returning officer made the announcement at 11.30am.
The large crowd estimated at 10,000 exchanged friendly taunting, but there were a few tense moments among the PKR supporters when the police started to seize PAS flags.
PKR Dominique Ng intervened and talked to a senior police officer. Later Ng told Malaysiakini that the police refused to allow PAS flags to be displayed at the field among the DAP and PKR crowd.
‘Dayakism in action’
The police told Ng that PAS was not a participating party in the by-election and according to the rules of the Election Commission, any party which was not involved should not be allowed to join the crowd displaying its flags.
Ng told the police that if that was the case, then SUPP, SPDP and PBB should also not be allowed to display their flags.
But the police replied that they were parties in the Barisan Nasional, whereas Pakatan Rakyat was not a registerd body.
After a long argument, the police allowed the PAS contingent to join its partners, saying that it was all a miscommunication.
A former senior BN leader commented on the number of so many Dayak lawyers present at the nomination centre to support the PKR…it shows “Dayakism in action”.
Many ordinary Dayaks from professionals down to rural dwellers have taken a greater interest in the Dayaks’ political predicament while using PKR as the main vehicle to articulate their fears and hopes.
Earlier Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud led his entire cabinet ministers and several thousand BN supporters, comprising members of various BN component parties, not only from Sarawak, but also from Sabah and West Malaysia.
The BN entourage also included several BN federal ministers including Shafiee Apdal and Peter Chin.
The PKR supporters were led by Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.
Sleepy border town bursts into life
The PKR leaders were joined by their colleagues including four state-elected representatives of Sarawak Wong Ho Leng, Chong Chieng Jen, Voon Lee San and Violet Yong as well as their colleagues from Sabah such as Jeffrey Kitingan and Christina Liew.
PAS also sent its representatives to lend support to the PKR candidate.
Lubok Antu has never seen such a large gathering of supporters from the various political parties and so many leaders from both the ruling coalition and opposition at one time during any election.
The sleepy border town suddenly bursts into life and Taib’s presence has lent credence to the belief that he considered crucial that BN must win in this predominantly Iban seat in the face of the increasing challenge from the PKR which is starting to make inroads into the rural areas.
Polling will take place on April 7 and the result will be announced at 8pm at the Lubok Antu Sports Complex - the same venue as for the nomination.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/101232
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