Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said that Barisan Nasional will win more than two-thirds majority in the state election this Saturday because bumiputras continue to be behind the government.
Taib, who is Sarawak BN chairman, said he also sees some change in Chinese-dominated so-called black areas.
“After the last several days, I see, God-willing, BN will be able to win more than two-thirds of the seats in the Sarawak state legislative assembly," he said in an interview here.
"This is based on my survey. It seems bumiputra constituents are still loyal to BN because they think that no one but BN can guarantee their future," he said.
On Chinese support, which is reported to be mainly for the opposition, Taib said that some Chinese had in the past one month felt that their problems and grouses were beginning to get the attention of the BN government.
He said the Chinese community wanted representatives who could discuss matters with other races in the government to achieve the most balanced solution for all.
"I reminded them that it is not enough for them to bring up their problems only once in a while to really protect the interests of the community," Taib said.
Although there was some change in Chinese support, some areas remain black, he said.
Taib said he sensed a more serious mood among Chinese voters above 35 years old who he felt realise that the community cannot be out of the government because this would deprive them of the chance for dialogue and to progress as in the past.
He said that Chinese well-versed in economics, business and matters pertaining to prosperity were mulling the same question. "I think if they stand up boldly, we will have more seats from the Chinese community. I don't think we will lose all the Chinese seats. It is not as bad as that."
Taib also spoke out against what he saw as aggressive tactics imported into Sarawak by the opposition, especially the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), to incite the young with their anger and hatred.
He slammed the peninsula-based opposition parties for waging a sustained campaign of "lies, instigation and racism allegations" in the state election.
He said allegations of racial discrimination and that non-Muslims in Sarawak were unsafe were "all fiction".
Taib said most of the DAP and PKR campaign workers were not Sarawakians.
"Most of the people of Sarawak know that there are more Christians than Muslims in Sarawak. So there is no question of Muslims wanting to dominate or to discriminate against other faiths," he added.
Even the small Indian population found it comfortable living in the state, he said.
Taib said he was saddened by such attempts to disrupt unity in the state.
"I tell the religious leaders and community leaders frankly that the politics propagated by the DAP and PKR is unsuitable to ensure peace and solidarity or for the convenience and progress of Sarawak in future," Taib said.
The Sarawak United People's Party, the Chinese component in the state BN, is again locked in a fierce tussle with the DAP in the dozen Chinese majority areas.
In 2006, SUPP lost six Chinese seats to the DAP.
BN held 63 of the 71 seats in the last assembly. — Bernama
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