MORE than 21.1 million citizens of this country, including 1.94 million Sarawakians, are eligible to exercise their responsibilities as voters on November 19 to elect a new Malaysian government.
According to the Election Commission (EC) data, of that total number, 5.8 million are new voters.
The current voter registration before Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) is made mandatory on December 15, 2021, is 15.3 million.
As of January, a total of 1.2 million of these new voters were aged 18 to 20, with more than 128,000 from this state. These groups make up more than 954,000 voters under the age of 40 in Sarawak in the 15th General Election (GE15).
This number is actually very relevant because in the next 15 days, political parties and individuals will nominate their respective candidates in GE15.
Naming a candidate may be a simple matter. But making the candidate a winner, especially a ‘pemenang bermaruah’ (honorable winner), is not an easy task. It requires accurate data analysis, as well as an effective communication strategy.
Usually, the selection of candidates by any political party is based on fitness, popularity, influence and with authority. However, after GE14, everything changed.
Each party needs to focus on the chosen candidate. If he or she is too old, he or she needs to be replaced.
If in GE14, a large group of young and educated voters succeeded in changing the federal government, it is not impossible that they will do it again, with the increase of more young voters, following the introduction of Undi18.
Therefore, it is very necessary for every party to look into this matter if they want to be elected by this group of determined voters.
The candidates who are brought in not only need to be intelligent, open, knowledgeable, friendly and hardworking but also need to be open and free from ego, pride and negativity. They need to be able to empathise with the needs and lives of the people and act quickly and decisively when necessary.
And in the context of Sarawak, they need to have the courage to speak up for the state, to ensure that the agenda of defending the state is always the narrative of the struggle.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) needs to have a set of leaders like this because their struggle agenda after this is so clear and big.
This includes ensuring that the list of demands of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) continues to be strengthened and fulfilled as well as ensuring that one-third of the Members of Parliament allocated to Sabah and Sarawak are obtained.
If GPS continues to be the kingmaker that determines the country’s leadership, the time has come for the party to be promised the position of Deputy Prime Minister.
Because of this, the selection of candidates this time is quite important. These candidates must not only win but are able to debate and be influential when brought to the national political stage.
Out of the ordinary, it’s not really wrong if intelligent representatives such as Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee; Datuk Dr. Juanda Jaya; Fazruddin Abdul Rahman; Datuk Abdullah Saidol and even Datuk Snowdan Lawan and Miro Simuh are given this stage space, because they have proved to have the intellect to attack and defend when facing opponents as well as being rich in ideas when defending the state.
In actual fact, not a few are of the opinion that Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg himself needs to be in Parliament to lead Sarawak because he is known for his influence and authority.
And if this happens, Sarawak’s dream of holding the position of Deputy Prime Minister will be achieved because the whole country respects his experience and determination. In fact, many leaders from Malaya tried to get close to him.
At the same time, for the sake of the party’s survival, young candidates must also be placed on the list. Lukanisman Awang Sauni was chosen as a candidate in Sibuti at the age of 36, and it turns out that he has successfully carried out his duties and is well respected.
With most parties fielding 70 per cent of new and young candidates in the general election this time, this fact needs to be fully considered. Remember, almost 50 per cent of the voters in Sarawak are those under the age of 40.
At the same time, GPS also needs to avoid candidates who bring negativity. This includes candidates who are recycled and have questionable personalities. Even those who are no longer interested in becoming Members of Parliament need to be rested.
The new politics of the country does not need such people. In fact, these candidates were rejected by Sarawak voters in the last GE and they do not hesitate to repeat this action if it happens again.
GE15 is a new beginning for national politics and the algorithm has changed. Any party must not choose the wrong candidate because if this happens, it will bring disaster and a nightmare that cannot be imagined.
