As Sarawak moves closer to its 11th state election, possibly next month, Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem appears happy when met at gatherings over the past two weeks.
During the Mukah-leg of the Sejiwa, Senada (One Soul, One Beat) programme this month, Adenan wowed the crowd when he joined performers on stage and sang Cliff Richard’s The Young Ones — a song that has been played at almost all events attended by Adenan.
It was when Adenan, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, sang and showed his dance moves to Saloma’s Biarkan Aku Pergi that really got the 30,000 crowd, mostly from the Melanau community, all excited. He continued to show the same enthusiasm at other functions.
Perhaps, the jovial mood that Adenan has been sharing with the people during his statewide tour is a sign that he is more than prepared to lead Sarawak Barisan Nasional in the polls.
As pointed out by Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas, the policies introduced by the 72-year-old Adenan and his administration have resonated well with the people.
“He speaks the right language and sings the right songs,” said Uggah, referring to Adenan’s humble approach in gauging support from Sarawakians.
Many quarters, including observers and journalists, are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the state cabinet meeting to be chaired by Adenan tomorrow.
Sarawak cabinet members are expected to deliberate on a number of issues, including proposals to slash the assessment rate on properties and to declare July 22 as a public holiday to commemorate the day Sarawak gained independence from the British.
Adenan, the Tanjung Datu assemblyman, is scheduled to seek an audience with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud before the meeting, which has sparked rumours that Adenan will announce the date to dissolve the state assembly.
Associate Professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya says the state assembly will not be dissolved immediately after the weekly cabinet meeting even if Adenan and Taib agree to the date of the dissolution.
“Maybe, Taib will give his consent to the date but it does not mean that the state assembly will be immediately dissolved,” said Awang Azman, adding that Adenan had yet to completely address issues pertaining to seat allocations among component and breakaway parties in Sarawak BN.
State Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, who is also United People’s Party (UPP) president, has said that more needs to be done over seat allocations among Sarawak BN parties.
“The UPP president has recently said that he will not resign from the party just to become an election candidate, which is against the provisions in Sarawak BN’s constitution.
“It will be interesting to see the end of this saga between the component parties and splinter parties,” said Awang Azman.
Political analyst Professor Jayum Jawan, the 15th Tun Abdul Razak Chair and Visiting Political Science Professor at Ohio University, said the timing of the dissolution of the state assembly is no longer relevant as its lifespan is coming to a close.
The mandate for the present state assembly expires on June 20.
Jayum said Sarawak BN has completed all the things it needed “to do”.
“Haggling over a few seats and disagreements between competing factions within the ruling party are also more or less resolved, although some parties may not be too happy about the decision.
“The results of the election are expected to be more or less predictable. Sarawak BN will be returned with at least a strong majority and it is not outside its ability to secure a comfortable two-thirds majority.
“This is based on the fact that the Malay-Melanau society faces no divisive issues. Hence, PBB is expected to retain all the Malay-Melanau seats. The party also has a few Dayak seats but those are not expected to be lost although contests might be tougher in some constituencies.”
Jayum adds that support from the Dayak community is crucial for Sarawak BN to secure a simple majority or a two-thirds majority.
“The real opponents are those Dayaks encouraged by the new awakening and who are taking their dissatisfaction to the ballot boxes. But, unfortunately, their choice of DAP and PKR has not gone done down well with the Dayak professionals, who seek something more significant. A few dark horses will emerge but their numbers will not rock the status quo,” Jayum added.
Adenan is touring the state to unveil some of Sarawak BN’s potential candidates for the polls. With the inclusion of some new faces, “Team Adenan” appears to be ahead of the opposition DAP and PKR, which are still haggling over their seat allocations.
Adib Povera, born in Kuala Lumpur and raised in Perak, is NST’s Sarawak bureau chief. A nature lover, he never tires of discovering new sights in the Land of the Hornbills