NONE The Barisan Nasional candidate for the Sibu by-election has dismissed opposition suggestions that the results could have a bearing on the upcoming state election.

    

Speaking to Malaysiakini on the sidelines of the Seminar Gagasan 1Malaysia in Sibu, Robert Lau Hui Yew (right) said the outcome will not upset the status quo.

Explaining that the seat is "only one" of 222 in Parliament, he indicated that the outcome will be just a blip on the country's political radar.

        

azlan “It is not a case where you can actually say this is a crucial election where the government will stand or fall... It is not a situation where this election will decide the next government... It is not a such big issue in that sense,” he said.

Rather, noted Lau, it is the opposition that deems the by-election as a litmus test for itself, in order to shore up support for the state election which is due by 2012.

By the time that rolls around, Lau reckons that the Sibu results would have been long forgotten.

“Do you think one year later, people will remember the result of this (by-election) and (that it will) influence people in Kapit, Belaga and other places?

“If you say this is a prelude to change in the state election in one or two years’ time, (you must) know (that) in politics, two weeks is (a long time).”

Mum on strategy

Lau, 45, refused to shed details about his campaign strategies.

“I’ve stayed in Sibu for 45 years. We know the local issues,” was all he would say.

NONE Lau, a political novice from Supp, will square up to DAP veteran and Bukit Assek state assemblyperson Wong Ho Leng (right in pix) in the May 16 contest.

The by-election - the 11th since the general election in March 2008 - is being called following the death of Lau’s cousin and incumbent Robert Lau Hoi Chew. Nominations will be filed on Saturday.

Sibu has traditionally been a Supp stronghold. Its long-time rival DAP has failed to make inroads with the sizeable number of Iban and Melanau voters, who make up almost 40 percent of the electorate.