The allegations are part of an increasingly heated tussle ahead of an April 16 state legislature election in eastern Sarawak state, which has been a government stronghold for decades. The ballot could determine whether Prime Minister Najib Razak commands enough support to call for a snap national election soon.
Allegations of graft against Sarawak state Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s 30-year rule and anger among the state’s indigenous tribes over what they perceive as economic marginalization are key themes in the opposition’s effort to erode the ruling National Front coalition’s grip in Borneo.
Baru Bian, a leading state opposition politician, claimed ruling coalition representatives were handing out improper gifts to indigenous communities living in wooden homes in the district he is contesting.
“They are giving hampers, zinc roofs, sardines, mattresses — all simple and cheap stuff,” said Baru, whom the opposition considers a potential state chief minister in the unlikely event that the National Front loses the election.
National Front representatives who could comment on the allegations were not immediately available, but some officials have previously described such offerings as legitimate development aid for impoverished communities.
Malaysia’s Election Commission has declined to say if offering such gifts is an offense.
Chong Siew Chiang, another opposition politician, said the gifts amounted to bribery, but voiced hopes that people would “vote according to their conscience.” Sarawak, Malaysia’s biggest state, is rich in oil, gas and timber but its people are among the country’s poorest. Some 70 percent of its nearly a million voters live in rural areas often accessible only by boats, helicopters or jungle treks.
The National Front previously held 62 of Sarawak’s 71 legislature seats, and analysts say it should easily retain power, partly because the opposition lacks resources to reach many voters.
However, the opposition wants to prevent the National Front from retaining a two-thirds majority in Sarawak’s legislature by capitalizing on allegations that Abdul Taib has remained in power too long and amassed billions of dollars through shady business deals. Abdul Taib has rejected such accusations.
The opposition has attracted massive crowds to its campaign rallies, prompting Najib to schedule an unusually long stay of six days to personally campaign in Sarawak this week. Najib said over the weekend that Abdul Taib will step down after the elections, but provided no time frame.
Many analysts expect Najib to hold national elections within a year, even though the National Front’s mandate only expires in mid-2013. The opposition made unprecedented gains in 2008 general elections, but the government has tried to win back support by pledging to address public complaints of corruption, racial discrimination and economic mismanagement.
