The Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is set to step down by the end of this month, after almost 33 years at the helm of the state.
I will expect the new Sarawak Chief Minister, whether the PBB deputy president Abang Johari Openg, PBB senior vice president Awang Tengah Ali Hassan or PBB information chief Adenan Satem to opt for early state general elections to seek a new mandate from the Sarawak voters instead of heading the Sarawak state government for 12 to 18 months before holding new polls.
Opting for early state polls will give the new Sarawak Chief Minister the advantage of starting on a comparatively new slate, promising to heed the calls for change and improvements after almost 33 years of Taib Mahmud rule, which would not be available if the new Sarawak Chief Minister goes to polls after 12 or 18 months in office when he will have to campaign on his own record.
For this reason, the Sarawak DAP and Pakatan Rakyat must gird itself to be ready to face the 11th Sarawak state general elections any time after the present state assembly has completed three years after April 16, 2014.
I will not be surprised if the Sarawak state legislative assembly is dissolved after April 16, 2014.
#1 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 - 8:45 am
Get ready boys!
#2 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 - 8:49 am
So no truth to the rumours it could be Alfred Jabu? It would actually change my opinion that when UMNO enter and conquer Sarawak, it will still be Taib’s fault.
Truth is what has kept UMNO out of Sarawak is because of Taib’s personal strength. Without it, there is nothing. The CM seat itself does not make it possible. Building another Taib – at great expense to Sarawak and Sarawakian would be just as bad as having UMNO in Sarawak.
Ultimately the reason for UMNO’s conquest of Sabah and eventually Sarawak is the corruption. So long as their leaders don’t walk away from corruption, Sarawak will only become more and more vulnerable and hence its why it will always be Taib’s fault when it happens eventually..
#3 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 - 9:06 am
Taib’s speech, published in The Malaysian Insider, of not allowing Umno to cross over from Peninsular Malaysia to Sarawak is aimed to lure voters in the 11th Sarawak state general elections. It is a clear sign that the 11th Sarawak state general elections may be held any time after April 16, 2014.
#4 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 - 10:45 am
I hear that the State Assembly is due to be dissolved by mid-February, possibly this weekend itself paving the way for elections very, very soon, earlier than Kit suggested.
It will be a snap elections catching everyone by surprise given the deteriorating situation especially the All Ah case.
Some say the target date will be mid-March or even March 23 itself when many opposition leaders will be pre-occupied with the Kajang polls. So be prepared.
Question is, has PR made enough inroads into the interiors to win the rural seats and form the state government? Without these, PR will never win the state.
#5 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 - 10:46 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I hear that the State As$embly is due to be dissolved by mid-February, possibly this weekend itself paving the way for elections very, very soon, earlier than Kit suggested.
It will be a snap elections catching everyone by surprise given the deteriorating situation especially the All Ah case.
Some say the target date will be mid-March or even March 23 itself when many opposition leaders will be pre-occupied with the Kajang polls. So be prepared.
Question is, has PR made enough inroads into the interiors to win the rural seats and form the state government? Without these, PR will never win the state.
#6 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 - 11:42 am
So there is one side of this that is not being discussed. Its likely that Taib has just done Najib a big favour dealing with the extremist in his party pushing him against the wall. With Sarawak, in a state of flux, the extremist are not going to risk toppling Najib so as not to risk Sarawak’s fixed deposit status or give up any chance of UMNO’s push to enter Sarawak..
#7 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 - 5:17 pm
R U SURE S’wakians ready n WANT 2 CHANGE?
They r in love n hv bondage with Perkosa-UmnoB/BN
#8 by pulau_sibu on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 - 9:17 pm
not a problem. sarawak cabinet can come up with a new law to make the governor higher than sultan….
> Becoming the state governor will not necessarily provide Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud immunity from prosecution, constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari says.
#9 by loo on Wednesday, 12 February 2014 - 1:25 am
Well, if there is a snap poll, time for PKR to take fewer seats. Less than 35 seats for a start. Anyway, Anwar would make a deal with Taib, wanna bet