I do not know why Tan Sri Adenan Satem wants to give out the impression that he may be knocked out as the Sarawak Chief Minister in the 11th Sarawak state general election, when it is as clear as daylight on Nomination Day on Monday that there is 100 per cent certainty that he will continue as the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years.
This is why I am prepared to do what is not my practice, to bet with anyone who said that Adenan will not be the Sarawak Chief Minister on May 7. In fact, I am prepared to bet even with Adenan himself!
Does Adenan really believe that he might not be the Sarawak Chief Minister after May 7? I will like to know the reasons why.
The issue on May 7 Polling Day is not whether Adenan will become the Sarawak Chief Minister for the next five years, but whether he can be denied two-thirds State Assembly majority to ensure that he keeps his election promises to the people of Sarawak and does not abuse his powers as the Sarawak Chief Minister.
I call on the voters of Simanggang and Sarawak to unite to achieve the objective of “May 7 – Create Miracles” to deny Sarawak Barisan Nasional two-thirds State Assembly majority by voting at least 28 State Assemblymen into the Sarawak State Assembly.
This magic figure of 28 can e achieved if DAP wins 20 to 22 State Assembly seats and the PKR wins six to eight State Assembly seats.
This is a very tall order, but we must be prepared to scale impossible heights to secure the future for our children and children’s children.
Malaysia has been formed for over 52 years but Sarawak remains a very rich state with the poorest people in the country. This state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue, as the people of Sarawak regardless of ethnicity, religion or political beliefs are entitled to the fundamental right of development and must be able to share in the wealth of Sarawak.
This is why there must be political change in Sarawak and Malaysia.
The first two steps had been taken in the 2006 and 2011 Sarawak State General Elections. The May 7, 2016 vote will be a critical third step to show that the politics of change is not just the aspiration of the people of Kuching, Sibu, Meradong, Sarikei, Bintulu and Miri but also of Sarawakians all over Sarawak, whether Simanggang, Serian, Tasik Biru, Mambong, Mulu, Murum, Samalaju, Pakan, Ngemah, Katibas or Bukit Goram.
If this third step for “political change” in Sarawak is achieved in ten days’ time on May 7, then the stage will be set for the fourth step for political change in the Sarawak state general election in 2021, where DAP and like-minded Sarawakians can aim for the first time to form the Sarawak state government.
In five years’ time I will be 80 years old. Even if I cannot campaign actively in the 12th Sarawak State General Election in 2021, at least I will feel satisfied that I had played my part in the first three steps of political change in 2006, 2011 nd 2016 Sarawak state general elections to lead to the Great Electoral Contest in the 2021 Sarawak State General Election.
May 7, 2016 will decide whether Sarawak DAP and Sarawakians can keep to this 15-year trajectory for political change from 2006 to 2021!
(Speech at the DAP Sarawak State Election ceramah in Sri Aman in Simanggang constituency on Thursday, 28th April 2016 at 9 pm)