///Lim Kit Siang also said the days Barisan Nasional considered Sabah and Sarawak as its “fixed deposits” are over///

Victory in Sibu is only a beach head like the way Normandy was to the Allies in World War II. The march to defeat the opponent esconced is long and arduous one. The critical factors for the Allies were transportation/logistics/bridges – they seized the Nijmegan and Remagan Bridges – required to reach Berlin. Local populace were unhappy with German Occupation and their assistance by way of local resistance forces to facilitate Allies advance was important.

Likewise the critical factors in fixed deposit states are the general discontent by local populace of their neglect by Putrajaya working hand in hand with local chieftains and the logistics of how to tap on this simmering discontent and bring the message of Change to areas beyond urban perimeters.

Both Sarawak & Sabah contribute more than 30% of oil and gas, not to mention timber and palm oil. Today their peoples are still wallowing in poverty want and neglect. The potholes on the roads and insanitary conditions of sewerage and the flooding in Sibu have been there for more than 50 years. Where there is a good road they have to pay tolls higher than Semenanjung. How do you think they feel, especially the Young who have come to work in Singapore, West Malaysia and seen whats happening here? They save enough to buy computers and a TV and have Astro connected. It is through these that stirrings of alienation and restiveness are beginning in these two states besides the message of Opposition politicians in campaigns.

These states have become “fixed deposits” because of the way the BN could use and capitalise financial resources and leverage on patronage networks…First of all the BN has logistic advantage: its agents have boats and helicopters to access interiors, meet with local penghulus, native headmen, make some promises of giving land, and for now, as show of earnestness, provide the boat motors, fishing nets, water tanks, give the headmen a wad of cash for him to distribute RM300 per head on “I give you this in exchange for you know what I want” basis. In Sabah, one has the massive problems of migrants given legal status quid pro quo to vote for the BN.

The issue is how the Opposition can counteract the BN’s traditional advantage with locals in these respects. BN taps on the social heirarchy and traditional deference to local headmen so that when local headmen are bought so the rest of the Kampung/long houses will follow suit. [The Chinese in Urban areas are comparatively easier to handle. They are more exposed to national issues and arguably less susceptible to monetary and developmental blandishments. Play your card right and DAP in particular may get another 6 seats in predominantly urban contituencies in (say) Sarawak where Chinese votes are significant]. But what about the non Chinese dominant constituencies forming the bedrock of BN Fixed deposits? The Fixed Deposit states collectively gave the BN 54 seats out of 140 in last GE! What resources could the Opposition mobilise to continually (and not just by or general elections) penetrate the areas beyond the towns and urban areas to bring the the idea that has arrived, that they have been taken for a ride by their local chieftains in cahoots with West Malaysian ruling politicians, and the best hope of their getting out of their predicament of poverty and backwaters of development is to vote for Change fought for by the Opposition? That and not just a wafer thin victory in Sibu will determine whether “the days Barisan Nasional considered Sabah and Sarawak as its “fixed deposits” are over” are really over….