The recent sex video that hit opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is unlikely to stir up much problems for the Pakatan Rakyat in Sarawak, according to PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramili. 

He has no doubts that the timing of a snippet of the controversial video, posted online on Monday, is related to the Sarawak election but does not see it as an influence on voters on April 16.

orange book forum klscah 250111 rafizi ramli "The national mood is against gutter politics. Many feel that there are many more important issues to deal with, and this feeling is amplified more in Sarawak," he said when contacted.

Rafizi, ( left ) who is in Sarawak to coordinate his party's campaign, pointed out that the key issues are local sentiments against Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and the disparity between the rich and the poor.

He doesn't think that the voters are too bothered about the sex video, as their focus is largely on the state's future - which in turn depends on who takes the powerful position as Sarawak's top leader.

"The single most important politician in the state is the chief minister and the future of Sarawak is not in Anwar's hands. It depends on who is the next chief minister.

"It goes back to basic human nature, where the focus will be on bread-and-butter issues. Anwar is a star campaigner, but the most they can do with this (sex video) is dim the attendance at his ceramah .

"I don't think the sex video will alter our campaign in Sarawak. Sarawakians want a change in the chief minister, and Anwar is not a chief minister candidate," he said.

Sex video could backfire on BN

A political analyst agreed with Rafizi's view that the sex video won't mean much to the Sarawak electorate, basing his observations on the differences in mindsets of the Muslim electorate in Peninsular Malaysia and those in Sabah and Sarawak.

The analyst, James Chin, noted that the sex video claim against Anwar was tame compared with the sodomy accusations he had faced previously.

"Being gay is like a mortal sin in Islam, and it will have an effect in the peninsula because Muslims here are more fundamentalist. But I can say that there will be almost no impact in Sabah and Sarawak because the Muslims there are more relaxed," he said.

NONE Chin ( right ) added the political spin associated with the online release of the sex video snippet had little momentum as it did not highlight anything that people haven't already heard.

"If anything, it may win more sympathy for Anwar," he said.

Asked about the effect of the sex video on the Pakatan alliance and public perception, Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong said he believes it could create an opportunity for the Pakatan.

"The opposition will spin it and say that the government is responsible," he said, in reference to the video.

But Wee said the BN would not take things lying down.

"They will go on the offensive. We will be on the offensive. Both sides will go on the offensive," he added.

Additional reporting by Hazlan Zakaria