The issue of Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian becoming the next chief minister should Pakatan Rakyat win the state election and the sentiment of Sarawakians who want to be governed by a local party, appeared to be BN’s latest propaganda moves in the final lap of the campaign.

A BN campaign advertisement on the front page of today’s Utusan Sarawak read “Jom ubah? Baru Bian jadi ketua. Sik nyesalkah kita kelak!” (Change? Wouldn’t we regret it in the future if Baru Bian becomes the chief?)

Pakatan has been complaining in the past few days that leaflets produced by unknown parties portraying Baru Bian, a Christian from the Lun Bawang ethnic minority, as the next chief minister were distributed in Malay and Melanau areas.

They claimed that the racial move was aimed to intimidate the Malay and Melanau voters who are said to have enjoyed privileges in the civil service as well as government aid under the administration led by Taib, a Melanau Muslim.

Playing on this, though, Pakatan campaigners have similarly been pointing out the privileges accorded to Malays and Melanaus, leaving the Ibans disgruntled.

On the same page, the local Malay daily also published an analysis coupled with a reader’s letter on the same issue. It is unusual for newspapers to publish reader’s letter on their front page.

The analysis titled “Baru Bian will lead Pakatan in Sarawak?” claimed that Baru is just a ‘puppet’ used by peninsular opposition leaders to push their way into Sarawak, which is known for its rich resources.

The letter by a reader named Jitam ak Antin cited the view of a Sabahan named Alex Mojuntin that Sarawakians are fortunate to have the right to elect their own chief minister.

“You have a chief minister who really takes care of the rights of Sarawakians. We in Sabah fought among ourselves and now we have lost everything. All decisions have to be referred to Kuala Lumpur.”

Sabah was governed by local party PBS until the state government was taken over by Umno-led BN in 1994 due to defections.

Portraying Pakatan as 'peninsular parties'

The state autonomy sentiment is also reflected in another advertisement with a tagline under BN’s ‘Dacing’ symbol that read “Undilah BN Negeri” (vote for state BN) and "By Truly Sarawakians".

For the past few days, BN has been portraying Pakatan as ‘peninsular parties’ that aim to dictate Sarawak through this state election.

Another BN advertisement on the front page of local English daily New Sarawak Tribune is also singing the same tune.

“CHANGE??? We may ‘fight’ among ourselves. But together we fight outsiders! And together we protect Sarawak’s interest,” read the advertisement.

The same advertisement also appeared in today’s Chinese dailies.

Other BN advertisement in Chinese dailies claimed that Sarawak BN will retain power on April 16 but SUPP is on the brink of great defeat.

Should that happen, the advertisements warned that the Chinese would lose the post of first deputy chief minister, all state ministers and deputy ministerships, as well as the power to appoint mayors of south Kuching and Miri, and community leaders.

“The Chinese community would be sidelined in the social and political arena.”