– Dr. S. Ramakrishnan, May 1, 2016.

The rather late but fair order by the Federal Court to arrest Muslim convert Mohd Ridhuan Abdullah in the interfaith custody tussle and the police prompt action in the Ipoh temple breaking case seem to be a sudden reversal of past trends. Do these shocking verdict and quick action have anything to do with the impending Sarawak elections to show a feel good factor about the BN government?

Even Penang State Assemblyman, RSN Rayer was acquitted from a sedition charge, ostensibly for describing Umno with an unsavoury word. Well, elections are a good time for people to get what they want. The Government usually wants to show that it is fair and cares for the people and behaves rather in a friendly manner during this time. And for this edition of the state elections, both the prime minister and his deputy have joined the chief minister in the campaign trail, seeking a huge and unprecedented win.

After months of preparation and setting the stage to win big in the upcoming Sarawak state election, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Chief Minister Adenan Satim finally called for the state election for the May. Najib, who is deeply embroiled in the 1MDB debacle, is looking for redemption or perhaps a straw, to give a boost to his fast flagging political career. He is said to have visited Sarawak on more than 50 occasions, approving various programmes worth more than RM3 billion during his walkabout and approving another RM16 billion for the construction of the toll free Pan Borneo Highway project.

But the Sarawak BN manipulates the immigration laws for its advantage. BN has the right to choose the time for elections, use the national bursary to approve funds needed to bribe voters and make new election promises while the election commission looks the other way.

Illegal immigrants all over…

Sarawak BN controls not only the immigration, but even the river boats used for crossing over to go to long houses. Despite the unfair advantages, BN leaders are still afraid to allow opposition MPs to campaign in the state. Something seems amiss here and indicates that they are not completely confident of a victory in free and fair elections. And this is because all is not too well under the BN rule. The irony is that Sarawak has Illegal immigrants all over the state but elected representatives are not allowed in!

The state is the richest in Malaysia with oil, gas, timber and forestry but its people remain the poorest in Malaysia. The state exports electricity to west Malaysia but its people in many areas have no electricity. The rich are very rich while the poor natives

are very poor and they live in the interior with poor access to towns. Lands have been cleared to make way for oil palm plantations. These companies employ foreign workers. Sarawak natives are the losers on every front. They cannot take on the mighty BN, which abuses the law to bring about an order that favours the ruling elite in this election. The GST might bite into their daily livelihood but the BRIM and handouts will provide temporary relief.

Everybody knows about the abuses of the former chief minister who practically deforested the state. Yet he is now above the law and no one can touch him. The ruling elites can do anything and say anything and they can get away. Chief minister Adenan vows that he will never allow UMNO into the state. Why should UMNO go in when the chief Minister works loyally for them? The campaign ‘Sarawak for Sarawakians’ is to create a feel good atmosphere among the people but rings hollow. This is because over the years the same group has impoverished the state.

To BN it is all about giving handouts and promises of “inclusion if you vote BN”.  But it is not about good governance, free of corruption and fairness. In the interior and rural areas, bread and butter take precedence over good governance. The plain simple truth is that the Sarawak polls results will not be an indicator of the national mood.

Only when people cannot be bought, bribed and bullied, will the real results show.