BN-Umno can’t touch even a strand of Pek Moh’s hair in Sarawak
KUCHING: Fifty years after the formation of Malaysia, Sarawak remains the only federated state where Barisan Nasional’s (BN) dominant Umno does not have its political presence.
Umno has been trying to set foot on Sarawak’s political ground for almost five decades but failed.
There are two compelling reasons for Umno’s failure to enter Sarawak thus far:
Ø The astute leadership of Tan Sri Taib Mahmud, fondly referred to by the locals as Pak Uban (white-haired uncle), who has helmed Sarawak’s administration for 32 years; and
Ø The parochial locals’ rejection of peninsula Malaysians.
Umno’s entry into Sabah some two decades ago and its subsequent socio-economic political development have also strengthened Sarawakians’ resolve to continue their rejection of the country’s largest political party.
Their suspicions and distrust for Umno are not unfounded.
For one, did BN-Umno keep its word to share political power in Sabah by rotating the chief ministership with the non-Umno local leaders?
Given the current political scenario, there is nothing to prevent the 77-year-old Taib from remaining politically dominant in Sarawak.
BN-Umno is currently at its weakest in Malaysian political history and is, therefore, in no position to rock the boat in the two East Malaysia states.
To put it bluntly, BN-Umno is unable to touch even a strand of Pek Moh’s hair. Pek Moh (white hair) is the Sarawak Chinese community’s nickname for Taib.
In the 13th general election (GE13), BN won only 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats, seven seats fewer than GE12 when BN lost its “traditional” two-thirds majority for the first time in electoral history. BN’s majority to remain in the Putrajaya throne is only 44.
Of the 133 seats, Sabah (22) and Sarawak (25) delivered 47 seats for BN. Taib’s Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) made a clean sweep of all 14 seats it contested.
Can BN-Umno really risk upsetting the East Malaysians?
Also, why do you think Umno is fiercely courting PAS, using the Malay unity card?
The muzakarah is nothing about Malay-Muslim unity but all about using PAS’ Malay numbers to strengthen Umno’s position in federal-level politics.
The major barrier is the perception among many Sarawakians that Umno simply does not understand East Malaysia and what it takes to accommodate integrated communities consisting of many races and religious beliefs.
This is evident in the way neighbouring Sabah has turned out since Umno took over the state – marginalisation of ethnic groups and mass influx of illegal immigrants, making Sabah the third most populated state but among the poorest.
The inflammatory declarations of Malay supremacy and the more recent 1Melayu concept have raised many concerns, causing many Sarawakians to fear that the worst would happen in their state if Umno were to come in.
However, Sarawak State Minister of Land Development Tan Sri James Masing pointed out that the crux of the matter is not that Sarawakians dislike or like Umno, but more along the lines of unnecessary entry into a very stable political scenario.
“Umno is the backbone of BN in other states because they need Umno to be the anchor partner in the state.
“It is not necessary for Umno to come here because we have a very strong backbone in the form of PBB.
“PBB is Umno here – so to speak – in terms of political structure as it provides the strength for Sarawak and, therefore, stabilises politics in the state.
“You cannot have two tigers on one mountain – it just does not work. That is why Umno has been rejected all the time,” the senior minister explained to theantdaily on the phone.
He noted that there were some locals at the fringe of mainstream politics in Sarawak who felt that they were being sidelined and tried to bring in “outside factors” to achieve their aims, a move he considered unwise.
Political analyst Dr Jeniri Amir said Umno’s many campaigns to try and set foot here started in 1964 when membership forms were filled up.
Faced with a lot of complications, the move was abandoned but nonetheless subsequent efforts were made by various parties, including former PBB deputy president Tan Sri Abang Abdul Bakar a decade ago, he said.
“On the part of PBB, there has been some very strong resistance and so there is some kind of agreement between Umno and PBB where Umno would not come to Sarawak.
“My take on this is that Umno would not come to Sarawak so long as PBB is united, strong and manages to deliver the seats for the BN.
“I think Umno will only capitalise and set foot in Sarawak if PBB is no longer strong and elected. If the Malay/Melanau power is eroded, that is the time Umno will come into Sarawak.
“It is not so simple because of the different socio-political and demographic makeup here. Apart from the Chinese and Indians, we have some 25 different ethnic groups,” he pointed out.
A technical consultant who declined to be named emphasised that Sarawakians are simply not ready for Umno as they would be bullied and lose a lot of control of what happens in their homeland.
“Umno is too racist to come here. Sarawakians will be easily manipulated as we are gullible and not conniving enough like them. They are miles ahead when it comes to dirty politics.
“Umno will give you sweet promises which are empty. In Sabah, they promised rotating chief ministers among parties, a concept that did not last very long.
However, a senior citizen told theantdaily that it was just a matter of time before Umno entered Sarawak, adding that the prime minister propagating the 1Malaysia concept could set the stage.
“1Malaysia can mean that the parties from Peninsular Malaysia can be here as well and we can be ruled by the backbone of the BN for the whole country: Umno.
“The disadvantage would be that they can appoint anyone to be the leaders here and we cannot question it. This means West Malaysians can be leaders here under Umno.
“We Sarawakians are quite lucky in the sense that the leadership in the state does not think it is time for Umno to come into the state.
“If there is a change of leadership in the state, the scenario could change. PBB can always put on an Umno jacket and declare that it is Umno now,” he added.
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