Our Correspondent
Saturday, 15 May 2010 13:39
BILLBOARDS, banners and posters of the BN and DAP are aplenty in Sibu town but the image of one prominent Sarawak figure is conspicuously absent - Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.
This was a 'surprise' feature in a by-election in Sarawak. Normally, posters of the state's long-serving chief minister would be put up alongside that of the BN candidate. But there was none this time.
taib
Taib (right) with SUPP leaders Dr George Chan and Wong Soon Koh in Sibu.
Asked by a Malaysian Mirror journalist why this was so, a local SUPP leader replied, "You should be able to guess why."
Questioned whether this was because Taib is no longer saleable among the Chinese electorate in Sibu, he cautiously responded, "You said that. I didn't".
Taib is an issue in the Sibu by-election.
Observers are saying that the main reason why no posters of Taib are put up by SUPP is because the chief minister has become a liability in Sibu. And SUPP is painfully aware of it.
"It is no secret that SUPP people are aware of the matter and most local BN leaders are hoping that Taib would play no part in Sibu. Hence, they are doing away with posters of the chief minister.
'Notorious' reputation
In a constituency where the Chinese electorate is the majority, Taib Mahmud is not saleable. His 'notorious' reputation of abuses, corruption and nepotism is well known and has become a big issue", they noted.
However, posters of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak are seen almost everywhere. SUPP feels that the prime minister's 1Malaysia slogan is a strong selling point and the party is banking on it to draw support.
SUPP-6Also, Najib is a new prime minister and he is seen in Sibu as quite a capable and fair leader. Perhaps, the people are willing to give him a chance to perform.
Fortunately for the BN camp, Taib is aware that he has been under attack from the opposition.
The chief minister has possibly taken note of his 'immense unpopularity' in Sibu after he was booed on his arrival to attend a Tua Pek Kong function which was also attended by Najib two nights ago.
Taib said yesterday that he was not bothered how the opposition attacked him personally in campaigning for the Sibu by-election.
"Let them say whatever they want. If I am as bad as they say, I would have brought the state down the drain long time ago.
"The people have known me for a long time. They know better," he said this when approached by the media after visiting Rumah Dick, a 54-door Iban longhouse at kilometre 12, Ulu Oya Road in Sibu.
Warm up to Najib
Taib is not the only BN personality who is seen to be unwelcomed by the Sibu electorate. Another is Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Public reception, especially among the Chinese, towards the DPM has been cold, a local BN leader noted.
But it seems that the local populace is able to warm up to Najib.
"This is where we have to be careful about inviting VIPs to help in our campaign.
"Those who had previously made statements which are deemed racist in nature would not be invited to come.
"But the trouble is that some of them are ministers and we cannot stop them from coming to Sibu," added the BN leader— Malaysian Mirror
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