GE14 | Every democratic event, be it nomination day or polling day, is always characterised by the colours of fanfare.

The frills, thrills and spills of democracy’s major festival – the general election – evoke multiple sentiments among the citizenry.

And so it is for Sarawak, after candidates filed their nomination papers yesterday.

From Miri to Mukah, Serian to Santubong, Limbang to Lawas, Sibu to Selangau, Kapit to Kanowit – and throughout the length and breadth of the state it is a familiar scene – morning walkabouts and night ceramah are the order of the day.

In the last two weeks, PKR's incumbent MP for Miri, Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng, has been campaigning just as the other candidates everywhere.

Just as the days before, his day started early at 7.30am today. The mornings are usually spent talking to the voter base, engaging in kopitiam-style pleasantries. He also meets the early morning housewives who are out marketing.

Teo’s campaign director Voon Shiak Nee, who is also PKR national women’s vice-chairperson, has come up with an ingenious way of communicating using the WhatsApp audio recording system.

“We are doing our walkabout now in Miri. Our campaigning has so far turned out to be better than expected,” he told Malaysiakini. 

“However, I must say that the campaigning period is a bit too short. To adequately cover Miri, a longer campaigning period will be ideal.

"Perhaps, I guess it is the same generally for all the other constituencies too, a longer campaigning period can make a big difference,” added Teo, who has been holding court as a lawmaker since 2013.

Asked about voter sentiment towards his candidacy, he said it is “positive and good”, adding: “No general election is without its challenges. Everybody has to work hard in order to win.”

He started his night ceramah yesterday after filing his nomination paper earlier in the day.

Entry parade

Teo who will be locking horns with SUPP’s Sebastian Ting, was ushered into the nomination centre escorted by a colourful parade of nearly 500 Sarawakians.

Some among them were dressed in Iban, Orang Ulu, Malay, Chinese and even Indian costumes.

And joining the parade was a man in a wheelchair. His presence, evoking inescapable pathos which could probably add some brownie points for the candidate – the healing doctor who saved his leg from being amputated.

Extended family members of Teo also joined his wife and son to make it a family affair with maverick Batu Lintang assemblyperson, See Chee How, joining the cavalcade to pepper in a dash of the human sizzle.

According to Voon, most of the people he spoke to want a change of government.

"Businesspersons complain that it is hard to make a living, while Joe and Jane Public find it hard to make ends meet.”

Perhaps, Voon has crafted the tone for Teo’s script when he speaks at the long ceramah nights ahead.

Tonight, Teo will be speaking to Miri voters in the city’s popular lepak ground known as “The Boulevard.”