If the voting trend of the Chinese community in the Sibu by-election last year were any indication, BN will in all likelihood lose at least 12 Chinese-majority state seats in the Sarawak in the next state polls.

Predicting this today, Universiti Teknologi Mara lecturer Shaharudin Badaruddin said even though BN will win a majority of the seats in the state elections, 12 will be won by DAP.

This is because there are a number of local issues that will be played up by Pakatan Rakyat, especially the issue of Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

“Abdul Taib’s successor will be a big issue. If BN does not succeed in tackling this problem, BN will face problems.

azlan “(Taib) was a liability in the Sibu by-election. And he will be a major issue in the upcoming state elections,” he said when presenting a paper entitled 'The political landscape in the upcoming 13th general elections' at Universiti Malaya today.

The programme was organised by the university’s Centre for Democracy and Elections (UMCEDEL) at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Shaharuddin, who was among the scores placed under the Internal Security Act (ISA) when reformasi broke out following the dismissal and detention of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in 1998, said the issue of Taib’s 30-year tenure as chief minister and his ‘dynasty’ will be raised in the upcoming state elections.

What more when the DAP manifesto was accepted by the Chinese community in the Sibu by-election in its albeit 'silent protest' against the incumbent state government.

Shaharuddin also showed pictures of banners that appeared in Sibu during the poll, such as one that read "Vote for SUPP = Vote for Taib".

Polls likely next month

Following the Sarawak elections of 2006, DAP currently holds sway in the state seats of Bukit Assek, Pending, Meradong, Batu Lintang, Kidurong and Kota Sentosa; PKR holds the Padungan state seat, while Ngemah is held by Parti Cinta Malaysia.

In addition to failing to retake the above seats, Shaharuddin said the opposition may also bring into its fold Repok, Dudong, Pelawan, Batu Kawah and Bawang Assam - all currently under BN component party SUPP.

azlan Three Malay-majority seats - Beting Maro, Sadong Jaya and Saribas - won by the Taib-led party PBB with less than 1,000-vote majorities, may also fall to Pakatan, said Shaharuddin.

Shaharuddin also predicted that the Sarawak state elections would be held in April.

In his presentation, he said the opposition in Sabah and Sarawak is still unprepared to govern the state.

According to him, this is because PKR in Sabah still faces problems in finding leaders.

PKR in Sarawak, meanwhile, is “not as strong” as BN.

“The (BN) government is very ready. There’s been a lot of development there,” said Shaharuddin.

Commenting on Chinese sentiments over Abdul Taib, the policy and administration studies lecturer told Malaysiakini that, "As long as Taib is there, they will not vote for BN.”

S'wak BN still worried despite twin wins