Adenan: Pakatan putting up strong challenge

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Adenan Satem, 67, is an experienced and respected political figure in Sarawak who is well-known as a good debater on local issues including customary land.

Currently, he is the information head of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) which leads the Sarawak BN as well as the special advisor at the Chief Minister's Office.

taib and adenan staem shaking hands 180305 Adenan, a former journalist, magistrate and lawyer before venturing into politics, had won all the state and parliamentary elections he had contested since 1979.

In the Sarawak state election on Saturday, he will defend the Tanjung Datu seat that he won in the 2006 state election with a 4,545-vote majority.

In an interview with Bernama at his residence in Damai recently, Adenan expressed his confidence that the BN would still form the state government although he conceded that the coalition was facing a tough challenge from the opposition this time around.

He said the confidence was based on several factors such as the loyalty of BN's core supporters throughout Sarawak, the opposition's failure to compromise which led to many constituencies facing more than two contestants as well as the statement by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud on the transition of power within the next two or three years.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

What is your assessment on the election this time which is considered to be the most hard-fought in the history of the Sarawak state election?

Based on my experience after having been involved in politics for more than 30 years, the BN can win again and form the government in Sarawak. However, the opposition appears to be putting up a strong challenge and (they) can win (several seats) but not enough to deny the BN a two-third majority. This is based on my experience from contesting for the 10th time.

azlan Furthermore, there are many constituencies where the contest is three-cornered, four-cornered, five-cornered, and even six-cornered. The BN still has its core supporters. They will not shift to any other party. And if the opposition is broken into two, three, four and more, this will reduce the votes for them.

For example, it is not important for us (BN) to get 50 per cent of the votes in a three- or four-cornered fight, getting 40 per cent is enough to win.

This is a strategic mistake for them. Out of greed to win as many seats, they do not want to compromise. I have already said, in such a situation where there are many oppositions, the independent candidates will also contest. This will frustrate the strategy of the opposition parties.

In your opinion, what are the considerations to be taken into account by the voters when casting their ballots?

The people of Sarawak know if that is the stand of the opposition, they will not be able to administer the state. And if they want to bring change, their theme is 'ubah' or change, this will not materialise.

NONE On the contrary, there will be chaos in the Sarawak state government, and if they cannot resolve their own problems, how are they to resolve the problems of the people.

The BN already has a tradition and experience. We don't say everything is correct, but we have the experience on how to administer the country and states.

On the retirement of Pehin Sri (Abdul Taib), he has already said himself that he will retire within one, two years after the election. I am also certain that there will be senior BN leaders who will retire. So, this is no longer an issue.

It was tough before than it is now but we have managed, always managed. There is the danger that if a (BN) component party, the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) loses in the urban and suburban seats, there may not be any Chinese (representation) in the Sarawak state government.

This may result in the Chinese community not being able to voice their aspirations in the government.

The opposition appears to be very aggressive in the election to influence the voters, don't you think so?

The election will decide whether the rakyat still believe in the old ways together with the new in carrying out transformation at the national or state level, not the opposition parties. The past and current BN or Alliance leaders had brought transformation, changes from an undeveloped to a developed state.

We have brought change for the better. These people (the Opposition), talked about change. You can’t be sure whether the change will be for the better, or it may turn out to be for the worse. Look at the mess in Selangor, the mess in Penang and the mess in other states that they controlled.

NONE In Malaysia, there are two governments, namely the federal and the state governments. Most of the allocation for infrastructural development comes from the federal government. If the federal government is BN and the state government is BN, it will be easy to plan programmes for the benefit of the rakyat.

Try and ask (Penang CM Lim) Guan Eng or (Selangor MB) Khalid Ibrahim whether they have any problems with the federal (government) about allocation.

How influential is PKR in Sarawak?

PKR is a party that only champions the cause of (Opposition leader) Anwar Ibrahim. It started off because of Anwar Ibrahim. That is how it started. All other issues that they raised are just an after thought.

I still remember when Anwar was sacked by Mahathir (Mohamad) in September 1998. If he had not been sacked, I don’t think there is PKR now.

And the local sentiments, they don't like parties originating from the peninsula. So PKR originates from the peninsula, PAS and the DAP also from the peninsula. Only the Snap (is a Sarawak party) but it is a small component.

But all the BN component parties in Sarawak originate from Sarawak namely PBB, SUPP, Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

NONE Is it true that Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian gets the sympathy of voters in Ba' Kelalan?

He is more of a publicity (person) than substance. He challenged the chief minister to a debate ... he merely wants publicity. He knows he has no stature. He had previously lost three times, twice in Ba’ Kelalan, once in Lawas.

Can Score (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy), which will provide much benefits to the people of Sarawak, brighten the BN chances of winning the election this time?

Score must be explained in detail to the people. If you present Score in general terms only, the local people may not fully understand it. You have to interpret Score in relation to the respective constituency... What is there for me?

For example, Score will generate thousands of jobs. But what about my children? Are they going to have any opportunity or not? We all know the long-term benefits of Score but we are facing the election now.

How about the situation in Tanjung Datu where you are defending your seat?

In the last election, the PKR candidate received 406 votes, the Independent candiate 357 votes and Adenan Satem received 4,545 votes. That result speaks for itself and they both lost their deposits.

I was elected in Muara Tuang seven times. When I was first elected, there was literally no infrastructure in Samarahan. Everywhere you go is by boat... river, not even a proper jetty... only coconut trunks.

But now you see almost every kampung is accesible by road, and there is electricity, water. It looks more like a suburban than rural area.

- Bernama



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