SERIAN: Distribution of leaflets especially in the rural areas may be adopted as an alternative to physical campaigning during the 12th State Election.
Tebedu assemblyman Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong said in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, it would be difficult to hold normal campaigning such as house to house visits and organising large political gatherings.
“It is not easy especially in the rural areas, because many residents do not have access to social media as they do not have the gadgets and internet,” he told reporters after declaring open St Paul Church’s new building at Kampung Tema Saan, Tebedu on Sunday (Dec 13).
He said however he was ready to distribute leaflets with regard to informing people about Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“I am prepared for that. I am going to distribute leaflets. I think by using leaflets, we will be able to reach out to the people.
“We have done this before for the Bidayuh community, every household was given leaflets on why they should vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) before,” he said.
Manyin, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice president, said apart from distributing leaflets, they would meet the Council of Elders and through the council they would work with the respective community leaders on the matter.
“With the presence of the village chiefs, it will make our job much easier (in distributing the leaflets). Of course, the new normal such as social distancing will still need to be adhered to at all times.
“As long as we follow the standard operating procedure (SOP), I think the Election Commission (EC) will allow it and I don’t see any difficulty,” he said.
Commenting on the development in Tebedu, he said various infrastructure developments have been carried out by the Sarawak government under GPS.
“This includes providing roads, electricity and water supply as well as network services. But, if we are to compare the development with the urban areas, it is still not enough.
“But how can we improve that? It is only by supporting the government for continuous development,” he said.
Manyin therefore called on the community in Tebedu to continue to give their support to the GPS in the state election which would be held by June next year.
“There is no other choice, the people must support the government of the day — GPS especially when the Bidayuh community is a minority with only 220,000 in Sarawak,” said Manyin, who is also the Education, Science and Technological Research Minister.
