The leader of the pro-Umno group of independents who are challenging the leadership of Abdul Taib Mahmud has accused the Sarawak chief minister of running scared by delaying the state elections.

Abang Abu Bakar, who was Taib's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu's (PBB) former deputy president, said in an interview that the chief minister's decision to hold on until the very last minute before going to the polls would only serve to benefit his group of independents.

The term of the present state government ends on Nov 18. However, the chief minister has earlier ruled out November as a suitable month for polling because of the fasting season.

Abu Bakar, who is also a former defence minister, interpreted this to mean that the state elections will be held anytime between now and October.

He said that the delay in the much awaited election has further strengthened his group at the grassroots level.

"As far as our party is concerned, we have been making the necessary preparations since the end of 2000. The longer the elections are delayed, the better it will be for us."

He said his group, which is fielding 45 candidates, is predicted to win at least 27 seats to form the backbone of the next state government.

Haze-shy leader

The ex-cabinet minister believed that some of the issues in the coming polls include the concern over the return of the haze, which had badly affected Sarawak in 1997.

Another hot issue is the current dry spell which, according to Abu Bakar, has caused water shortage in many areas, and resulted in river transport becoming increasingly difficult and almost impossible in some areas.

Party campaigners in rural areas where rivers are the main means of communication are worried about the current dry spell.

There are some 5,000 long houses throughout Sarawak, and many polling booths can only be reached by boat.

"Further, the present haze does not allow the chief minister to hold the elections soon," Abu Bakar said in the interview with journalists.

"Taib does not like the haze and everybody in Sarawak have not forgotten the incident when the chief minister left Sarawak at the height of the haze in 1997," he quipped.

In search of a safe seat

Meanwhile, Taib said he would let the party's supreme council on Aug 21 to decide which seat he should contest in the coming elections.