Adenan Satem enjoys enviable popularity in Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR: As Sarawak gears for a state elections its chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem is enjoying very high popularity among some sections of voters.
But questions still remain whether he can win over the Chinese voters, who make up 28% of the population.
Adenan's popularity has increased to 84% compared with 74% in 2014 when he took over, said Universiti Sarawak Assoc Prof Dr Jeniri Amir.
He said this high rating is based on a study he had conducted.
"The implementation of new policies like empowerment for Sarawak in a number of sectors, development programs and the ending of toll collection on three bridges were among key reasons for the swing in his popularity," he said.
"I expect the popular votes for BN to increase from 55% in 2011 to 60% this time," Jeniri said.
He also said national issues like rising cost of living, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) would be definitely raised by the opposition.
"BN should be smart to tackle them," he said adding these issues might have an impact on young, urban voters who were more exposed to information on social media.
"BN must be smart at countering via traditional and new media," he said.
In the 2011 state election Chinese voters had overwhelmingly voted for the opposition but this time they are expected to divide their votes between the opposition and BN.