Wan Zainal Abiddin Wan Senusi is not contesting this time, but the election is far from over for the former Sarawak PKR chief.

"We may not win any seat yet, but our presence are felt since we contested for the first time in 1999," he told Malaysiakini during his campaign trail in the Batang Sadong parliamentary area.

Unlike BN campaigners who can afford to utilise stadiums to hold gatherings, PKR ceramah are usually held at the homes of sympathisers but the attendance at times are in the thousands.

Perhaps realising that most of the ceramah goers were only seeking entertaintment and not very serious about the party’s struggle or politics, Wan Zainal and his men had adopted more effective measures.

"We are now doing Ceramah Kelompok (group ceremah), up to five venues one night," he said.

Wan Zainal is already in his 60's but he is healthy and has a great zeal for politics. Once, he only made it home at 1.30am after a trip to Simunjan but got up early the next day and was on the move again..

To avoid direct contact with eldest brother Wan Abdul Wahab who is the BN state representative for Sadong Jaya, Wan Zainal has requested PKR leaders to excuse him from campaigning in that area.

Batang Sadong comprises the Sadong Jaya and Gedong state seats.

"We are not young anymore, its' time to make peace despite our political differences. Blood is thicker than water," Wan Zainal added. The two brothers fought each other during the elections in the 1990's.

New blood in Sarawak PKR

Wan Zainal stood on a PKR candidate in the 1999 general election but lose by a narrow margin to former minister Dr Sulaiman Daud.

Knowing his limitation, Wan Zainal decided to give way this time to a much younger local boy, Mohd Jolhi, to contest in Petra Jaya.

This time, Wan Zainal has also been assigned with a specific mission of helping PKR man Piee Ling wrests Batang Sadong from BN.

Piee lost narrowly to Wan Wahab in the last state election, and is contesting in the parliamentary seat for the first time. Wan Zainal thinks Piee could be very lucky first timer indeed.

"The locals are already very angry with the action of one of the two state assemblypersons in the area for grabbing NCR land, promising them agriculture land and paying them RM200 annual dividend for shares in oil palm plantation ventures.

"What makes it even more complicated for BN this time is the choice of candidate who is considered and ‘outsider’ when there are so many highly qualified and credible individuals in the area," Wan Zainal said.

BN is fielding Nancy Shukri, PBB Wanita secretary, in Batang Sadong. Nancy’s mother, Bibi Macpherson, was once a PBB Wanita leader as well. The Macpherson family is quite well known in Sarawak.

Wan Zainal said PKR has a realistic chance to create an upset in Batang Sadong and possibly Limbang too.

"Our candidate in Batang Sadong has a very good fighting chance so is our man in Limbang, Dr Lau Liak Koi, who is said to be favoured and backed by a very influential group there. I would say our chance is 50-50 and those who can convince fence sitters will win," he added.