QUESTION TIME There is a host of reasons for this but the most important is that the opposition does not realise one thing till today - which BN did since Malaysia was formed in 1963 - Sarawakians are Sarawakians or whichever community they come from, first and second, and Malaysians perhaps third.

Lest I am accused of bias against Sarawakians, let me quickly add that a similar statement probably applies to many of us elsewhere in Malaysia. Remember, a former deputy prime minister no less, famously or infamously said, depending on your point of view, that he was Malay first and Malaysian second.

Thus, Sarawakian issues matter far more for Sarawakians than Malaysian ones such as the 1Malaysia Development Bhd or 1MDB scandal. And they will matter much more for state elections - Sarawakians have to decide matters of their own state, right?