S'WAK POLLS | LIVE BLOG DAY 11
With two days to go before the May 7 state election, Chief Minister Adenan Satem has cancelled all scheduled events, including a meeting with the press at 6pm today.
However, later he decided to reinstate the press conference at 6pm.
Taking over his programme are Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who will focus his campaign in Kuching, while his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will go to the central region.
Zahid will be in Meradong, a state seat that fell to DAP 10 years ago to campaign for BN candidate Ding Kuong Hiing.
PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will have a cup of tea with the voters in Batu Kitang, one of the six seats clashing with DAP, and she will hold a press conference before leaving for Kuala Lumpur.
PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli will be campaigning in Nangka, a state seat in the Sibu parliamentary seat.
Both SUPP and DAP will also hold press conferences at 2.30pm.
Follow our LIVE BLOG as the Malaysiakini team in Sarawak brings you the news as it takes place.
No DAP big guns but crowd shows up
11pm - Boulevard, Miri: SUPP's foray into DAP's ceramah turf does not appear to pan out tonight.
About 100 people attend their wartruck ceramah which features BN Piasau candidate Sebastian Ting.
This is despite the SUPP ceramah being strategically located at a crossroads, where there are several restaurants packed with diners.
It pales in comparison to the DAP crowd - just one block away - which has over 1,200 people tonight, despite the lack of notable key speakers.
10.30pm - Kuching: Despite the rain in the Tabuan Jaya area, at least 500 people turn up, hoping to catch DAP's penultimate ceramah in Kuching.
DAP candidate for Pending Violet Yong verbally attacked BN for saying the party has done nothing but complain.
"Right now, BN is like the hen and DAP, the rooster. Our job is to crow at the hen to make sure it does its job. If it doesn't do its job, we peck at it until it lays 10, 20, 30 eggs. We peck at BN until they comply. We peck at them until they do what they are supposed to do," Yong tells the audience in local Hokkien.
Listing a litany of issues, including rising costs, GST, and municipal problems, Yong blamed BN for them all: "We are not the government. They are the government. We are just the opposition. We can't do anything. We can't carry out any policy. If they are going to blame us, then they might as well let us take over."
Earlier DAP candidate for Batu Kitang Abdul Aziz Isa calls his SUPP opponent Lo Khere Chiang "shameless".
"He took my own grandmother out and put her on display. He is shameless. Tomorrow is the last day of campaign, and he has not responded to my calls to debate on issues like the economy, GST, autonomy, and social policies. But what he is good at is wheeling out people's grandmothers."
"Lo Khere Chiang does not have the courage to face me. If you live in Padawan, the next time you have municipal problems, instead of fixing it, Lo Khere Chiang might wheel out your grandmother instead," says Abdul Aziz.
'Chinese seen as fragile community'
10.30pm - Tasik Biru, Bau: SPDP organises a 105-table dinner at Bau Bus Station to appeal to local voters in town, who are mainly from the Chinese community.
Present are Tasik Biru BN candidate Henry Jinep and party president Tiong King Sing.
Jinep does not address the crowd but Tiong, stumping for the coalition, urges local Chinese voters to cast their vote for BN in the interest of the community.
"We Chinese can't deny that we are seen as a fragile community. We should unite together to show government our strength," says Tiong.
However, Tiong's call is met with a lacklustre response from the audience.
DAP views Tasik Biru – which has a Bidayuh-majority – as a hot seat, in the party's attempt to penetrate bumiputera constituencies in this election.
SUPP claims DAP 'spreading lies'
10pm - Kuching: At the SUPP ceramah at Jalan Tun Jugah, at least 700 people, including diners, listen to speakers condemning DAP for "spreading lies".
Party supporters raise placards with phrases such as "To support DAP is to support lies and vulgarism".
The BN component party projects a campaign ad showing SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian taking a bus ride and directing the bus driver, played by chief minister Adenan Satem, which is received with loud applause.
Sim says the party has an "ally" in Adenan: "The DAP are only good at flip-flopping on issues. They only attack. With our good friend and ally Adenan, we are able to accomplish a lot and protect the interests of the Chinese community and Sarawak at large."
He adds that DAP is hypocritical, as it has done nothing for the citizens of Penang, where the party and its allies form the state government.
"They don't do anything in their own state, and yet attack BN on GST here."
'Slap in the face'
8pm - Kuching: DAP Sabah publicity chief Phoong Jin Zhe calls Prime Minister Najib Razak's refusal to reconsider increasing the state's oil royalty a "slap in the face".
"It is particular humiliating considering he said this in the presence of Sarawak's chief minister himself," Phoong says.
Phoong also refutes the state BN's claim that to empower DAP might lead to the entry of Umno.
"It is common knowledge in Sabah that it was a local party, Berjaya, that was responsible for selling off our oil rights in 1976.
"It is also common knowledge that it was infighting and corruption in Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) that led to Umno's entry. Saying DAP will cause Umno to enter Sarawak is completely illogical," he says.
Downpour diminishes crowd
8.07pm - Kuching: A downpour whittles audiences down to all but the most ardent DAP supporters in Tabuan Jaya, Kuching.
However, at least 500 people armed with umbrellas and raincoats, are there to hear the speakers decry state BN's handling of the oil royalty issue.
The speakers also focus on what they call "unashamed hypocrisy" on the state BN's part in banning DAP leaders, but allowing in Umno ministers in to attend the federal cabinet meeting yesterday.
Some in PAS told to leave S'wak
7pm - Kuching: PAS leaders and party workers in Sarawak are being told to leave the state today, according to Sarawak PAS secretary Mukhtar Suhaili.
In a statement, he says those being told to leave include the party's secretary-generalTakiyuddin Hassan, information chief Nasrudin Hassan, Kedah commissioner Ahmad Fakhruddin Sheikh Fakhrurazi and 'tens of PAS workers'.
"Sarawak PAS had sent official letters to the chief minister's office dated May 3 to apply for an extension for PAS leaders and workers in Sarawak," Mukhtar says.
He adds that some have been allowed an extension of seven days, while others have been allowed to enter Sarawak without any further restrictions.
Separately, the party's Kuala Nerus MP Khairuddin Takiri issues a statement saying that he is being deported from Sarawak upon arrival at Kuching airport at 4pm.
He says this is his third time in Kuching for the election, but has now being told that he is not allowed to enter the state and he is to board the next flight to back to Kuala Lumpur.
"I asked if there was a chance to appeal and at least let me enter and return tomorrow. However the (immigration) officer in charge says they have no power to hear appeals,'" he discloses.
Senadin incumbent opens parking lot serving mosque and church
6pm - Lutong, Miri: Incumbent Senadin assemblyperson Lee Kim Shin officiates a parking lot that concurrently serves both a church and a mosque.
An-Naim Mosque chairperson Ithnaini Bohari says the parking lot had been completed in March and that this is just a soft launch.
Good Shepherd Anglican Church priest in charge Donald Jute says the both houses of worship have co-existed for 35 years
"There has always been mutual respect between religions here, I've never heard of a single case of religious hatred," Lee says.
Adenan's image on billboard splashed with red paint
4pm - Sibu: Two days before polling, a billboard depicting Sarawak caretaker Chief Minister Adenan Satem and BN's Bawang Assan candidate Wong Soon Koh at Jalan Aup has been splashed with red paint.
However the paint seems to be only targeted at Adenan's image.
The billboard carries a message of thanks to Wong for building a community college in Sibu.
Set grievances aside, DPM tells BN friendly parties
3.30pm - Sibu: Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asks all BN-friendly parties in Sarawak to set aside any grievances to ensure a BN victory this Saturday.
"Set aside any grievances, if there is any anger, take water and pour until it subsides. Whoever the BN candidate is, we must support.
"I ask you this, those with grievances, who are disappointed or feel let down, please put it out and throw it far, far away until May 7 to ensure the victory of BN candidates selected by Tok Nan (caretaker chief minister Adenan Satem) and (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak)," Zahid says at the Maling Longhouse in Sibu.
He also asks that all party machineries redouble their efforts to ensure a win in Sarawak.
Zahid, who is also BN election director, announces the allocation of RM100,00 to the longhouses in the vicinity.
"For this longhouse and also those under the care of the Maling Longhouse chief, I allocate gifts of RM2,000 per house. With 50 houses that makes it RM100,000," he said to the applause of the longhouse inhabitants.
DAP slams Najib for rejecting higher oil royalty
3.15pm - Kuching: Sarawak DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen slams Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for rejecting the demand to raise Sarawak's oil royalty payment to 20 percent due to the fall in oil prices.
"Najib's excuse that oil prices are low has made it crystal clear that the present federal government has no intention to acquiesce to the demand. The Sarawak government had made a demand on May 2014, when oil price was above US$100 per barrel. With such high oil prices, the BN government did not even increase one percent of the oil royalty for Sarawak then," Chong tells reporters in Kuching.
He is referring to a state bill requesting a hike in royalty which was passed unanimously in the Sarawak state assembly two years ago.
"Oil rights should not be determined by oil prices. With the federal cabinet holding its meeting in Sarawak, and with the election just about to be held, for BN to reject the demand shows that it is a certainty that BN government would never return 20 percent oil royalty to Sarawak. Therefore to ensure that the oil royalty demands are met, we have to change both federal and state governments," says Chong.
DAP candidate for Padungan Wong King Wei says the state BN has not maintained its distance with Umno.
"Whoever becomes the BN chief minister of Sarawak has to have a close relationship with Putrajaya. History also tells us that whoever is close with Umno, would begin to sell off Sarawak's rights. It's best if we cut ties with Umno completely," says Wong.
Meanwhile, DAP candidate for Batu Kitang Abdul Aziz Isa says his opponent Lo Khere Chiang (SUPP) had resorted to using his grandmother to gain an advantage in the race for the seat.
"I challenge Lo Khere Chiang to come out to the public to explain why he used my grandmother to smear my name. I would like to tell Lo Khere Chiang to engage in mature politics. Let us have debates on issues like GST, immigration, or social policies. Instead you put my grandmother on display, who's supposed to be watching TV or playing with her grandchildren. She's old already. She's 75," Abdul Aziz says.
"My grandmother is a staunch supporter of PBB. Of course I can't expect her to support DAP. The same goes with members of DAP, I can't expect them to support PBB. It would be anathema. All I can do is offer myself and provide my own vision for the future," he adds.
Rafizi tells Harapan to learn lessons from seat disputes
12pm - Sibu: PKR vice president Rafizi Ramli hopes seat disputes among Pakatan Harapan partners such as that seen in the Sarawak will not recur in future.
Speaking at a press conference with PKR Nangka candidate in Taman Permai, Sibu today, he says the coalition should use this as a lesson.
“I am very sad about what has happened, but we have to move forward.
“I hope such things will not repeat. It is truly saddening, but it’s better this has happened now (than later).
“It’s better we get the message from the voters now, and we settle the matter and make improvements now,” says Rafizi.
EC chief refuses to comment on BN's 'promises of billions'
11pm - Padawan, Kuching: The Election Commission (EC) chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah refuses to comment on the allocations announced by the ruling BN government during the campaign period.
"I cannot comment on that," he says when asked if promises of billions in development funds for Sarawak by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should state BN perform well went against election rules.
"During the campaign period, the commission's duties are to ensure the election process runs smoothly. We are now busy attending to the election itself, things like making sure ballot papers and umbrellas are accounted for," Hashim (photo) tells reporters at the EC's makeshift headquarters in Padawan.
"For those contesting, they have their manifestos and so forth. Whatever they do, that is for those who are contesting. For the EC to get involved in the campaign, it would no longer be the EC."
"We urge voters to come out and vote regardless of who they support. They may consider what is promised by the politicians or they may not," he adds.
Batu Kitang BN man claims rebel granny came on own accord
10.35am - Kuching: The grandmother of the DAP Batu Kitang candidate who had shown up at a BN ceramah to urge voters not to support her grandson did so on her own accord, says BN’s candidate Lo Khere Chiang.
Lo denies he is playing gutter politics in allegedly making use of the 75-year-old Mazuyin Abd Manan, who showed up two nights ago at his ceramah.
"Aziz's grandmother is a person with a strong character, who dearly loves her grandson and is disappointed with his ways.
"I am blessed to have her support, and I welcome anyone who comes to support me," he says in a statement today, responding to PKR candidate Voon Shiak Ni, who had come to Aziz's defence.
"Aziz has access to his grandmother and he should ask his grandmother the actual facts.
"I have a deep respect for all elderly people, and Aziz’s grandmother knows that," Lo says.
Aziz has accused Lo of making use of his grandmother for the latter’s campaign.
Lo in turn took a jibe at Voon’s sincerity pointing to how PKR and DAP are allegedly at each other’s throats, citing the seat arguments leading up to the April 25 nominations.
PM, DPM says no to 20pct oil royalty, given out more than that
9.45am - Kuching: The total RM20 billion allocations handed to Sarawak by the federal government is more than the 20 percent oil royalty that the opposition seeks for the state.
This is how Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi defends the federal decision not to consider raising the state’s oil royalty for now.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s allocation for the Pan Borneo Highway, as well as those from other federal ministers, have exceeded RM20 billion, he is quoted saying in Chinese paper See Hua Daily.
Zahid insists these allocation are not election goodies, but it shows how Najib and the federal government care about the Sarawak.
Najib, after chairing the cabinet meeting in Kuching yesterday, is also reported saying this would not be the right time to consider raising the state’s oil royalty to 20 percent.
Adenan’s state government has requested the 20 percent increase prior to the state election.
Meanwhile, the incumbent chief minister, who had earlier cancelled his events today, has decided to proceed with the meet the press session at 6pm as scheduled.
This will be his third press conference with the media during the election campaign.
Wan Azizah brings grandma power to Kuching
9.42am - Batu Kitang, Kuching: In conjunction with upcoming Mother's Day, PKR organises a heart-warming celebration at the 3rd Mile bazaar.
Its president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail leads the Kuching urban candidates - See Chee How (Batu Lintang) and Voon Shiak Ni (Batu Kitang) - to distribute flowers and cut a cake to celebrate the maternal day.
In addressing the crowd of 70, Wan Azizah rebuts some allegations on her being a weak grandmother.
"What's wrong to be a grandma, at least we have children.
“Don't insult grandmas, and let’s continue our struggle with PKR. Please vote for PKR."
Today is her last day in Sarawak as the state government has limited her visa until today in the state’s highly criticised move to limit and bar West Malaysian access to the state..
She is scheduled to fly out from Kuching tonight.
Najib, Zahid brings gift of 'allocations' to Rela
9am - Kuching: Prime Minister Najib Razak announces RM20 million allocation for new uniforms for Sarawak’s People's Volunteer Corps (Rela).
“I will approve RM10 million for uniforms, I will approve RM10 million this year. I will approve RM10 million next year, so it is now RM20 million,” Borneo Post quotes him saying today.
Najib was addressing 12,000 Rela personnel at the leaders-meet-Rela programme.
The state government has also allocated a 38-acre plot of land in Sematan for the construction of Rela training centres, says Najib.
This is after Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi requested RM10 million from the federal government to purchase new uniforms for the outfit.
Bawang Assan Independent Yeu risks disqualification
9am- Sibu: Independent candidate for Bawang Assan Yeu Bang Keng may be disqualified if he is convicted by the magistrate court on Friday.
"If I am convicted and am fined more than RM2,000, I will lose my candidacy for Bawang Assan,” Borneo Post quotes him saying.
Yeu has been charged under Section 249 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for refusing to provide his Facebook username and password to the police pertaining a May 15, 2015 posting.
Under Section 242 of the same Act, Yeu may face a maximum fine of RM100,000 or two years imprisonment if convicted.
8am - Satok: Chief Minister Adenan Satem cancels all scheduled events, including meeting with the press at 6pm. His events will be represented by Najib and Zahid respectively.
"We are all tired, he is OK. Syukur (Thank God)," Adenan's private secretary replies Malaysiakini via text when contacted.
Despite cancelling all his events today, he is seen coordinating the election campaign in a meeting this morning with Abang Johari, incumbent Satok assemblyperson and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
