A highly-buoyed State Reform Party (Star) president Dr Patau Rubis claimed today that "many Barisan Nasional supporters are coming over" to his side, predicting "a landslide is possible" in the Bidayuh-majority Mas Gading parliamentary constituency where he is contesting on a Sarawak National Party (Snap) ticket.

He is challenging the BN candidate Dr Tiki Lafe, who is Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) vice president, an off-shoot of Snap, and a federal deputy minister in a straight fight, after two prospective Independent candidates withdrew during nomination.

Standing on a Star ticket in the 1999 general election, Patau lost the seat by a 3,820-vote majority, polling 6,764 votes against the same opponent who polled 10,584 votes.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud went campaigning for Tiki in Kampung Sudoh, Singai, within the Mas Gading constituency and told the Bidayuh that it would be "a great loss to them" if the deputy minister of national unity and social development was not re-elected to represent them.

He said the Bidayuh should consider themselves "lucky under the BN government" as they had been given a bigger voice with a bigger participation in state, Parliament and government departments.

The state BN chairperson also warned the community that if they choose the opposition, there was nothing much the state government could do to help.

"Even the federal government might not be able to give projects if they do not have a representative in the BN government," he added.

Issues on the ground

Jihim Minos, a Dayak Selako who withdrew from contesting as an Independent during nomination and decided to throw his support behind the Snap candidate told malaysiakini today: "What I can tell you is that as of now, many BN supporters have switched camp and are campaigning for Dr Patau for free."

According to him, there are many issues on the ground which have made many people in Mas Gading unhappy. Among them are floods, the bridge which remains uncompleted at Batang Kayan and land."

Mas Gading, partly because of its close proximity to Kuching and its extensive good network of roads within the constituency, is one seat being closely watched. A total of 22 seats are being contested in Sarawak..

Most observers agree that it could go either way, although the BN is still seen as having the edge, given its election machinery on the ground with the support from various component parties.

It has about 27,000 registered voters and is made up of two state constituencies, Tasik Biru and Tanjung Datu, both in BN control.