It is quite apparent that all three Bidayuh seats this time will return to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
In 2018 the coalition lost the parliamentary seats of Puncak Borneo and Mas Gading, so the focus now is on winning back the seats with renewed vigour.
The Mas Gading constituency is indeed a revenge arena for the party, after Mordi Bimol (DAP) created his history by winning the seat after several attempts.
Mordi won then not because of his popularity, but because of the people’s protests, including the grassroots GPS leadership against the incumbent, Datuk Anthony Nogeh Gumbek.
The people in this area did not speak loudly but expressed their disappointment through the ballot box.
Regardless, it’s an old wound, and the people of Mas Gading have given GPS-PDP a big punishment.
But this time, the party is confident that the decision will be overturned.
Nogeh is history, instead PDP this time features a young, intelligent and more energetic candidate, Lidang Disen.
When presenting Lidang, PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing publicly apologised for his candidate’s mistake in the last term, which cost the people four years.
The bold individual action of Tiong, who is known to be loud when arguing – expressing forgiveness must have touched the souls of the people.
It was done in a sincere tone, with a slightly disappointed face.
However, Tiong’s confidence is partly because DAP re-nominated Mordi – who had disappeared for quite some time before that.
According to ‘cerita kedai kopi’ (coffeeshop talk), Mordi, after 22 months of being in the government block before becoming the opposition again, had then faced extreme pressure to the point of affecting his health.
Mordi had to take a long break from meeting the people until after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob helmed the Federal government. This is because it is only at this time that allocations are channeled to members of parliament including the opposition as capital to help the people, after having to “hide behind the door” for so long.
Therefore, it is difficult to describe how he has to go through this series of campaigns when his nails have to be hidden. (apabila kuku sendiri terpaksa disembunyikan.)
In the last GE, the protests in Mas Gading brought 12,771 support for Mordi, compared to Nogeh (9,747 votes); but political scientists expect this time, his support will shrink severely.
For the record, the number of registered voters in this constituency is 47,096 compared to 29,617 in 2018.
Also competing in this Bidayuh-dominated seat is Ryan Sim Min Leong representing Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK).
Another seat that escaped the grasp of BN Sarawak (now GPS) in 2018 is Puncak Borneo.
During that year, the seat was new as a result of a re-delineation of the electoral boundaries.
It is a PBB stronghold. But when PBB nominated Jeannoth Sinel as its candidate, it dragged various controversies along with it.
The issue of land ownership was completely manipulated by Willie Mongin who represented PKR at the time until the people of Puncak Borneo became emotional.
Jeannoth was only able to get 14,860 votes while Willie polled 18,865 votes to create two histories; won the seat, and defeated PBB in its stronghold.
Another candidate, Buln Patrick Ribos from STAR only managed 795 votes.
The lesson from this defeat is important, which is to research the candidate’s background, should be free from various issues, especially related to morals and integrity.
This time the situation should be easier for this seat, because the incumbent, Willie has raised a new flag – GPS.
Willie will be challenged by Diog Dios (PH) and Tomson Ango (PSB). The constituency has 79,933 registered voters, with the Mambong state seat being the largest under it with a total of 33,569 voters.
Unlike in 2018, this time there is no strong wind blowing to demand change. So it’s good news for Willie — who throughout his term has served the constituency quite brilliantly — despite switching parties three times.
In Serian, incumbent Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem of GPS-SUPP is being challenged by Learry Jabul (DAP0, Elsiy Tingang (PSB) and an Independent, Alim Impira.
Riot, the deputy president of Sarawak United People’s Party is running for the eighth term. It will be quite difficult Elsiy Tinggang, Learry and Alim to challenge him because the people in this area are already familiar with Riot.
This former Minister of Human Resources won in 2018 with a majority of 9,905 votes when the area had 37,629 registered voters. There are now 65,130 registered voters in this constituency.
In this town, with its king of fruit (durian) background, Riot’s name is quite well known. He will be difficult to defeat by candidates who has only entered the arena for less than 12 months.
It is a safe bet for GPS to win the Bidayuh seats. Following its last defeat, GPS has made many changes and post-mortems, as well as undergoing improvements.
The defeat in the two seats has opened the eyes of the party leadership in the area, they need to change, take the grievances of the people seriously, and act accordingly on any problem.
Based on feedbacks, the three GPS candidates are not facing any big issues to winning big, but need to be more careful about young and new voters.
