Look beyond two-thirds, Anwar urges S'wak folk

If Pakatan Rakyat manages to deny BN its seemingly unshakable two-thirds’ majority in the 10th Sarawak state elections on April 16, many would see it as a miraculous victory for the opposition.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, however, is pushing even further with a bolder message for the rural folk of Sarawak - they have it in them to actually topple the current state government.

Naive as it may sound, the political circumstances and culture of the rural communities in Sarawak render it a more powerful battle cry to revive the 'Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban' (fight until death) spirit of the Dayak compared with merely seeking to ‘Deny BN two-thirds’ majority’.

Thus, Anwar conveyed that very message to the Iban community in two of his ceramahs yesterday in Bukit Begunan - an almost 100 percent Iban rural seat under the Sri Aman constituency.

"Enough is enough, this time we must change the ruling power!" cried Anwar at Rumah Ayoh, Pakit B in Sri Aman, after he read out the list of lands allegedly grabbed by Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's family and cronies.

The list had been labelled on PKR campaign materials along with a Sarawak map of the plots of land allegedly seized from indigenous communities.

"Does this state belong to his father? Is there none (to develop the land)? Only his children are considered as children? What about our children here?" asked the charismatic leader, whose oratory skills mesmerised the rural folk.

"If I were to rule Sarawak, Malay children would my children, Chinese children would be my children, Iban children would be my children, Bidayuh children would be my children!" Anwar pronounced forcefully, his voice echoing along the long corridor of the longhouse as some 50 Iban folks, mostly PKR supporters, applauded in approval.

Earlier in another Iban longhouse - Rumah Ujan in Mulugu of Sri Aman - Anwar had stressed that the sole purpose of the coming state election would be to topple the BN government.

"Who said we can't? Penang were able to. Selangor also were able to!" he said with full confidence.

It appeared the seasoned politician knew well that denying BN's two-thirds’ majority incommensurate with the demands of many rural folk for bigger, though basic, things that only those in power can expedite.

There are still many deprived of regular electricity and treated water supply, access to medical facilities, tarred road, and support for agriculture supplies..

Rural Ibans, for example, have translated their greater political awareness and sense of disillusionment with greater support for the opposition - the result of decades of poverty and marginalisation from mainstream development.

Vote for a stronger opposition, however, have raised fears among many rural voters - especially the fence-sitters - that they would be exposed to retaliation from the incumbent power.

It was this pervasive fear that Anwar attempted to dispel among rural Iban.

"Did you steal land? Did you rob timber?" Anwar asked his audience, who shook their heads in response.

“Then what are you afraid of? The world is going the other way round (while some) people who have never stolen or robbed are scared, but those high up there who rob the people are brave."

It is widely perceived in the rural areas that votes can be traced to the individual electors and family members would consequently be deprived of government assistance such as financial aid, fertiliser and zinc sheets for their housing needs.

Some even fear that those with jobs in the civil services would be sacked or children suspended from school.

For these reasons, the opposition's campaign in rural constituencies have been to go back to the basics of political education, convincing people that it is their right to vote freely.

Unlike his ceramah in the urban cities, only a small portion of Anwar's speeches have touched on ‘national’ issues, such as the impoundment of the Malay-language Bible, Al Kitab.

"I don't care whether they are Muslims, Hindus or Christians, they cannot restrict Al-Quran.

“The same goes for the Bible. Regardless of whether they are Muslims, Hindus or Christians, they cannot restrict the Bible," he told the crowd.

Another focus of Anwar's speech has been the welfare policies and governance of Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states, including the free water policy and the fund for children of deceased senior citizens in Selangor.

Achievements by the four Pakatan states, as well as the ‘integrity’ shown by their menteris besar such as Nik Aziz Nik Mat ( above, left ) and Khalid Ibrahim ( above, right ) will be the main message in PKR’s campaign.

It remains to be seen, however, if these messages could penetrate the land seen as BN’s 'fix deposit'.