Opposition butting heads benefit BN in Sarawak polls
PETALING JAYA: With less than 48 hours before Sarawakians go to the polls, the clash between DAP and PKR in six state seats has resulted in more support for the Barisan Nasional.
The seats DAP and PKR are clashing in are Batu Kitang, Mambong, Mulu, Murum, Simanggang and Ngemah.
PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had agreed on April 7 that the Chinese-majority seat of Batu Kitang be given to PKR on condition DAP field its picks in five seats – Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Mambong and Ngemah.
Defending PKR's move to contest the five seats, Azmin said the written agreement with DAP was never conclusive, adding that both parties were still in negotiations until the very end on the overlapping claims.
Lim said the decision to contest in Batu Kitang was made only after PKR showed no "commitment to abide by the agreement" sealed in writing by Azmin Ali.
Meanwhile PKR communication director Fahmi Fadzil said a survey for the Batu Kitang seat showed PKR candidate Voon Shiak Ni was favoured over DAP's Abdul Aziz Isa.
He said the survey by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) showed Voon was favoured by 33% of the respondents while 31% supported Abdul Aziz.
"The survey also showed Barisan Nasional candidate Lo Khere Chang beat both at 35% and the independent candidate had 11% support.
Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen had a different view.
He claimed support for Abdul Aziz had gone up from 45% to 49%, adding that a survey by the independent research group Merdeka Center in January showed strong support for his party.
Abdul Aziz Isa was originally supposed to contest for the Stakan seat.
DAP released the Merdeka Center findings to back its claim over overlapping seats.
Fahmi begged to differ and he pointed out that the UUM survey was conducted from April 27 to May 1.
The UUM survey also revealed that the Mambong seat would likely go to BN's Datuk Dr Jerip Susil who had 45% support while PKR's Willie Mongin had 28% support and DAP's Sanjan Daik had 27% support.
Voters in Sarawak go to the polls on Saturday.