KUCHING: Holding the coming state election amid the Covid-19 pandemic is indeed challenging but it is important that democracy is not compromised, said political analyst Dick Lembang Dugun.
He said that as Sarawak was transitioning to the endemic phase, a more practical way on handling the election should be decided upon.
“Public rallies and physical election campaigns should be allowed with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs),” he opined and added it would be necessary that more time should to be given for campaigning and voting day.
He said it was very difficult for new candidates to gain exposure if public rallies and physical campaigning were banned.
“But they can come up with alternatives such as bigger banners with their manifesto highlights which can be placed at strategic locations,” said the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) lecturer when contacted on Thursday (Nov 11).
He believed that social media would not be as efficient as public rallies, especially in the remote areas with limitations in internet coverage. He said some urban areas also faced poor internet connection.
“The connectivity must be in excellent level to ensure social media can be a major approach used as an alternative for campaigning,” said Dick.
In the event that public rallies and physical campaigning are not permitted in the coming state election, he said the best approach in rural areas would be for candidates to use vehicles with a loudspeaker system attached to campaign while moving around.
“They can also be mobile within the constituency but just stay at the vehicle and talk while people listen,” he suggested.
He emphasised that the functioning of democracy must be prioritised with the safety of the people during the election.
Meanwhile, political analyst Dr Lee Kuok Tiung pointed out that the state election in Melaka was practising the SOP of no public rallies or physical campaigning.
As such, he said social media or cyber-campaigning would be one of the approaches.
“Indeed, in the past, especially during the 14th General Election (GE14), we already saw cyber-campaigning becoming more popular and influential than traditional physical election campaign or using television, radio, or even billboards,” he pointed out.
On that note, he said Pakatan Harapan (PH) had the advantage in cyber-campaigning as its stronghold was in urban areas with better internet connectivity.
“But due to urbanisation or urban migration, lots of voters from semi-urban, rural, or interior areas are now working in urban areas.
“They will be the mouthpiece to their families, relatives, and friends in their kampung,” said Lee, who is also a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
