However, on whether the Sarawak Barisan Nasional will be returned to power or even on whether it would be able to secure two-thirds majority, there is absolutely no betting, as it is unthinkable that either one of them would be an issue tomorrow.
Nobody doubts that the Sarawak Barisan Nasional would be returned to power again tomorrow and with a very comfortable two-thirds majority in the State Assembly, as it is inconceivable that the Sarawak Barisan Nasional would lose 20 out of the total of 62 State Assembly seats as to lose its political hegemony of two-thirds majority.
There are several seats which have been regarded as “black” or “grey areas”, whether contested by PBB, SNAP or SUPP, such as Pantai Damai, Simunjan, Semariang, Meluan, Kidurong, Bukit Assek, Pelawan and Pandungan where upsets and defeats for the Barisan Nasional cannot be ruled out completely.
The best and most ideal results in the eighth Sarawak state general elections tomorrow is to ensure that while the Sarawak Barisan Nasional is returned again to power with comfortable two-thirds majority, there is also a strong phalanx of at least six to eight Opposition State Assemblymen to provide powerful checks to the Barisan Nasional government and to start the long hard road of democratic renewal for the state and Malaysia.
If there are at least six to eight Opposition State Assemblymen elected tomorrow, Sarawakians will be creating history and writing a new page for democracy not only in the state but also for the country, for it would be a catalyst and inspiration for a nation-wide popular movement for democracy, justice and good governance at the beginning of the new millennium.
DAP won three seats in the 1996 state general elections. I hope that we can at least maintain this record tomorrow, starting with Kidurong which we also won five years ago - but this time for a full five-year term and not just for 369 days.
(26/9/2001)