Leadership is not about the next election, it’s about the next generation.
— Simon Sinek, British-American author
Sometime in November 1983, I interviewed Sarawak chief minister (Tun Pehin Sri) Abdul Taib Mahmud, and asked if he could give me a date for the 4th Sarawak Election.
I had been sent by New Straits Times (NST) to Kuching to look for an office and run it as branch manager.
I was also a reporter and had arranged for an interview at Taib’s residence.
After the interview ended, Taib wrote on a piece of paper: “December 27” and with that, I wrote an exclusive that made the headlines.
My scoop was my prediction that the election would be held on Dec 27, 1983 and I said it from a “very reliable” source.
Apparently, my predication was too close to call that the Election Commission had to change the date later to Dec 28.
Taib went on to win the polls, and looking back, the 1983 election was a political watershed for him, who at a time had inherited a coalition with in-fighting and divided loyalties.
After 13 years as a federal minister, Taib found that the powerful SNAP had also factional issues.
He also found that elements in PBB were not happy that his uncle Abdul Rahman Yakub had anointed him as his successor.
SNAP, which was a powerful opposition then, was a divided party — young professionals, led by Leo Moggie, wanted to challenge James Wong Kim Min for the presidency.
After Wong won the AGM in 1981, the young members formed Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) — Moggie’s Dayak faction, which was accepted into the state coalition.
In the 1983 election, both PBDS and SNAP contested, with the former winning six seats while SNAP won eight.
But the acceptance of PBDS as a BN coalition member set the tone for bitter rivalry within Taib’s Sarawak coalition.
In the following 1987 election, millions of ringgit were used by Taib’s detractors to buy votes, enticing seasoned politicians to switch camps to form an opposition party.
Apparently, the political frogs were paid RM1 million each once they checked into their “headquarters” — Ming Court Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
During a snap election, the Sarawak coalition barely scraped through, winning 28 of the 48 seats against an opposition
comprising five veteran PBB dissidents and 15 die-hards.
The perennial quarrel between PBDS and SNAP continued until the former was deregistered following a fallout between senior PBDS leader James Jemut Masing against its president Daniel Tajem in 2003.
With that, Masing formed the Sarawak People’s Party (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) which remained in the coalition.
In 2014, Masing rose to become one of Sarawak’s deputy chief ministers under Taib’s successor Adenan Satem.
When Adenan passed away in early 2017, he passed the political baton to Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who will face the coming state election very soon.
In all likelihood, this year’s election, which was due in September, would be held within six months.
Some political pundits say it could be a touch-and-go affair given the fact that this is the first time Abang Jo would be leading Sarawak as chief minister.
But Abang Jo is no rookie, having 40 years of experience under his belt.
Firstly, he has time and again stated that Sarawak is a self-autonomous region and not one of Malaysia’s 14 states.
Unlike Peninsular Malaysia, where some states have banned Christmas trees, among other things, Sarawak enjoys a privileged status thanks to Perikatan Nasional (Nasional Alliance).
In the words of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who visited Kuching for the first time in his capacity as prime minster, Sarawak is “an exemplified unity with diverse races and religious beliefs.”
But looking back, it has been a long struggle to reach this stage where the voters, even youth under 21, who are mature enough to vote for the right candidates.
To Abang Jo, it is a foregone conclusion because his policies have been well-received and at best, it’s a “penalty shoot-out”.
But if you think the disjointed and disorganised Opposition has the upper hand, think again!
Since taking over from Adenan four years ago, Abang Johari has come a long way and is well-prepared to weather the storm.
As a betting man, I will put my money on the Chief Minister, who shares my alma mater at St Thomas’ school!
As our slogan goes: Set your target and always aim higher!
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
