One of the questions that reporters are frequently fielding these days to Sarawak politicians in power is why a working day, a Thursday, instead of the usual Saturday, has been picked for polling for the Sept 27 state elections.

Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) chairperson Dr George Chan Hong Nam, the caretaker deputy chief minister, was the first Sarawak Barisan Nasional leader to respond to the question.

He said it has something to do with the number nine, because if one were to multiply that by two, it would give 18 (the nomination date) and when by three, it would give 27 (the polling date).

The Chinese have an affinity for the number eight which when pronounced means fatt or prosperity. The following number, nine, is also favoured as it represents longevity.

So far, no one else has come out with an explanation for the choosing of the two dates, Sept 18 and 27.

Nevertheless, many are questioning the wisdom of fixing the polling date on a Thursday, which is a working day, unless the state government declares polling day a public holiday, as suggested by the Elections Commission.

To the EC's request, caretaker Chief Minister and Sarawak BN chairperson Abdul Taib Mahmud said on Thursday that he alone could not decide on whether to declare Sept 27 a public holiday, suggesting that the state cabinet decide on it.

First-time voters

What will then happen if polling is on a working day?

"This is not a problem as far as the rural constituents are concerned," said a rural teacher. "The polling booths are close by and it's only a matter of staying away from the farm for the day or half a day."

Sarawak's electoral roll has about 870,000 registered voters but not everyone is expected to come out and cast their votes. The number is about 50,000 more than the last state elections.

Unless workers in the public and private sectors are given permission to take time off to vote, the worry in some quarters is that the average turnout may be lower, as a large percentage of the voters are in the urban areas.

Observers have also raised the question of who will gain more from having polling on a working day - the opposition or BN.

One fact is that the new electoral roll contains many young and first-time voters, who are generally considered pro-opposition. "They will come out to vote come rain or shine, public holiday or no public holiday," said an observer.

Two-thirds majority

BN, comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Supp, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and the Sarawak National Party (Snap), is confident of winning most or all of the 62 seats up for grabs in the Sarawak legislative assembly for this elections.

There is a motley collection of opposition parties comprising Keadilan, PAS, DAP, the Sarawak Reform Party (Star) as well as the independent hopefuls led by former defence minister and former PBB deputy president Abang Abu Bakar Abu Mustapha.

Predictions vary as to how the opposition parties will fare this time around with educated guesses of them winning between six and 12 seats. BN is expected to maintain its two-thirds majority easily.