Unfair media coverage, electoral manipulation and money politics will be the cause of the opposition's loss in the Sarawak election and not the lack of people's support, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Anwar Ibrahim.

The people of Sarawak will support the opposition as they are tired of the blatant corrupt practices and flawed policies of the state Barisan Nasional government, he noted of his campaign trail in the state.

"The response from the thousands we met is that they feel it is time to change. But I must qualify this with the problem of the Election Commission (EC) which had failed to ensure fair media coverage for all parties.

"The old problems of ballot boxes missing and millions of ringgit changing hands at the last minute are the issues that we need to take caution," he told a press conference at the Kuching International Airport yesterday.

General feeling

The ex-deputy premier said what he had seen during his campaign was unlike those he had experienced when he was in the BN.

"I've been in politics for sometime now and followed Sarawak elections very closely. From the response I got from the thousands who came for the ceramah, I must say the general feeling of the people here is that they want a change.

"So the hope for opposition candidates is very bright and I'm confident that many of our friends in the opposition will win," he said.

Anwar also cautioned Sarawakians against those who try to turn their dissatisfaction into hatred against one man, Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

"I know there are PBB people who are asking Sarawakians to continue their support for the BN as Taib will not be around for much longer.

"It is not just one man, it is the entire party, the BN. The chief minister is not the only one who has taken the land, squandered projects. It is the the BN culture where no Chinese, Iban or Muslim leaders dare speak up and they follow everything blindly," he stressed.

Anwar also expressed his disappointment with the EC whom he said should have taken steps to ensure fair media coverage for the opposition.

"It (EC) failed to ensure minimum media coverage for the opposition. Worse, it allowed unfair reporting by the media which is manipulated by certain quarters bent on creating confusion among the public."

Nasty, desperate people

Anwar said he anticipated the personal attacks by BN leaders as reported by the local media including one which attempted to link him to a group of transvestites.

He described the attacks as an attempt by nasty and desperate people who want to divert public attention from the real issues.

"We have gone to the courts and we have seen the fate of many of these nasty, desperate individuals who did not gain anything out of slandering me other than be shameful of their acts.

"It must also be remembered that corrupt leaders will always try to deflect the issues as they cannot answer the questions we have raised. How can they provide us answers on lands they have taken, timber concessions and projects they have given out to enrich their family members and cronies?," Anwar added.