Press Digest - Uphill battle for BN in Sarawak in next GE

PETALING JAYA: It is going to be a tough fight for Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election irrespective of who helms the state, says a political analyst.
Assoc Prof Jeniri Amir of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said the battles for the state BN will not be any easier even if the late chief minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, were still around to lead the charge, Oriental Daily News reported today.
He said this is because, unlike the state election, the coming general election will be an assessment of Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's performance as prime minister, and has no direct connection with the state BN leadership.
He believed that in general, the Chinese voters hope to see a good system of checks and balance, eradication of corruption and abuse of power.
He said Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Abang Openg has to handle the hudud issue well and provide a clear explanation of his stand to the Chinese community.
As for the natives, he pointed out that what Abang Johari has to deal with is the native customary rights land issue, on top of continuing with Adenan's fight for greater autonomy for the state from the federal government, a task made easy by the role he played – as the state's negotiator on devolution of powers with Putrajaya – under Adenan's administration.
On the state-federal ties, he believes Abang Johari will continue with the policy of maintaining a cordial relationship to facilitate negotiations, including for bigger share of development funds.
Jeniri, who is well-versed with Sarawak politics, also believes that Abang Johari, a seasoned politician and administrator, well aware of the needs of the Chinese in the state, will continue with Adenan's Chinese-friendly measures, and inclusiveness policy to ensure that no one community is marginalised.
"As an experienced leader, he (Abang Johari) will continue to be friendly to the Chinese and not antagonise them, because to do so is akin to committing political suicide."