KUALA LUMPURL: Along the charming stretch of Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg near Padang Merdeka lies the oldest tree in Kuching, or so I was told.
This tree, known as pokok Kabu-Kabu by locals, is said to be well over 100 years old.
Its huge protruding roots clenching the earth became a hindrance to party workers trying to put up billboards and flags bearing logos of election hopefuls.
Now, streets are lined with giant boards with photos of hand-folding candidates with slogans to captivate voters, and filled with flags of either blue, or white and red.
What’s apparent is the absence of logos of independent candidates, who want to try their hand in “doing their part for the rakyat”.
Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem calls independents “funny people”.
At a no-holds-barred press meet on Tuesday, Adenan had described independent candidates as people who could be bought, and those who were in it only to make easy money.
Some, he said, were funded by tycoons or groups to split votes, and would pocket the sponsorship money instead of spending it on campaigns.
He had told Sarawakians not to waste their votes on independent candidates, adding that they could do little even if they won.
“No independent candidate has been voted in twice,” said the 72 year old.
That was indeed the case.
Despite independent candidates’ poor showing in 2006, a record number of 41 independents contested in the 2011 Sarawak election, just a little over double the number from five years before.
The sole independent candidate who won in 2006 was Gabriel Adit Demong, who contested in Ngemah, a constituency 430km away from Kuching.
Gabriel contested again in 2011, this time under the Parti Cinta Malaysia ticket. He lost to Barisan Nasional’s Alexander Vincent, who obtained more than 44 per cent of the votes in the five-cornered fight.
Similarly in 2011, only one independent candidate was voted into the state assembly.
Safe to say, independents are one-hit wonders, and it seems like elections are just something on their bucket list, waiting to be checked off.
“With no machinery, manpower and logistics, their chances are slim compared with more structured political parties,” said political analyst Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.
Independents are alone in their ambitions to lead a constituency.
Adenan had been strict, saying that BN would not accept independents into the fold, even if they win.
The 35 independents in the May 7 polls have a lot to live up to. To provide what BN has done for the state is, in reality, a long shot.
Sarawakians cannot afford to cast their votes for someone who does not sit on the right side of the state assembly hall, if they want to be well taken care of for the next five years.