SOME have described him as “the man, the myth and legend” even before polling day.
But, perhaps, there is truth to the string of epithets — Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian is pulling out all the stops to win over the electorate in Batu Kawa, a constituency where the fight for supremacy over DAP is as taxing as it is traditional.
Dr Sim’s candidacy was said to be aimed at mitigating BN’s dwindling majority. Although his colleague, Tan Joo Phoi, managed to fight tooth and nail to retain the seat by polling a 543-vote majority in the last election, it is nowhere a safe bet in the long term.
Perhaps, that is why Dr Sim has been working overtime on the campaign trail and wears his grin permanently way after midnight.
It is not easy to stalk the surgeon, who likes to meet voters in small gatherings, other than the occasional public appearances with BN bigwigs.
His story is reflective of the campaigning atmosphere here in Sarawak, where all parties are going all out as polling day is less than 24 hours away, albeit without much pomp.
There are no big ceramah, akin to the ones in the peninsula, or creative campaign paraphernalia like huge paper tanks or helicopters. The candidates have generally adopted a door-to-door campaign approach, and left the gimmicky fanfare to top leaders.
While BN consistently focuses on local matters such as bread-and-butter and infrastructural issues, the opposition is trying to make its case based on politicised subjects, like the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
“From what we can see here, the opposition is still harping on topics that do not concern locals. GST may have gained a bit of traction, but that is about it. People here want something that they can benefit directly from.
“The peninsula brand of politics is not working well for them. But that does not mean BN can rest on its laurels.
“It needs to do better in explaining the GST issue to the people if they plan to counter the opposition’s onslaught totally,” said one of Sarawak’s foremost political experts, Professor Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir, during a meeting in Jalan Simpang Tiga here recently.
BN is fired up by the effervescence of state chairman Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who is, in turn, bolstered by the support of BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
If we look deeper into the campaigning style or machinery employed, DAP is perhaps a tad inconsistent and rather distracted due to its verbal fracas with PKR. DAP is locked in a battle with PKR for six seats, other than having to face BN in the same rumble.
At one point, DAP seems concerned about slugging it out with BN, by putting up posters on the abated RM2.6 billion donation issue, or contradictory words by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (although he is no longer with Umno).
The socialist party, however, is standing ready to hold simultaneous press conferences the moment it hears PKR is organising one, usually during midday.
As for Pas, it is playing a more realistic tune based on the number of seats it is contesting. The party knows it will not be able to form a government running for 11 seats. The Islamic party is now gunning to be a constructive opposition.
“The people of Sarawak are friendly and its politics are harmonious (peaceful). However, we believe that Sarawak needs a constructive opposition.
“We are contesting only 11 seats, hence, we can help to spur democracy in the state,” said Pas information chief Nasrudin Hassan quite modestly in a statement.
Since last week, observers have given their predictions on the number of seats to be won by each party. They believe that BN may likely increase its majority based on the new seats, PKR may at least retain one, which is Ba’kelalan, and Pas may end up with zero, as in the previous election.
The expected increase in BN seats is largely surmised based on the DAP-PKR row, which is expected to split votes in favour of the ruling coalition.
But, as Najib warned during a post-cabinet press conference on Wednesday, the opposition may have one last trick up its sleeve to spoil the confidence of those who may have become lax ahead of the polls.