KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) is allegedly using its
military personnel to intimidate voters in the outlying areas in
Sarawak.
According to Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, he has been receiving
reports of army personnel threatening constituents as “there is so
much at stake”.
“The state BN government even uses the army to threaten people
as there is so much at stake in this coming election.
“Just last evening I have received reports from my area,
Ba’Kelalan, that the army personnel who are now constructing roads
to Ba’kelalan are telling people if they vote for the opposition
and the Barisan Nasional lost, they will tear down all the
schools,” he said.
Bian, who is poised to contest in Ba’Kelalan, also said that a
“desperate BN” had begun flushing cash into longhouses in several
constituencies ahead of nomination day on April 6 and polling on
April 16.
“We have also received reports that Alfred Jabu (deputy chief
minister and Layar assemblyman) has offered RM500 per family.
“We heard that Jabu and his men are moving around in the Layar
constituency handing over cash to longhouse chiefs.
“In the Krian constituency, Peter Nyarok (the incumbent and
assistant minister) is telling people that if they are going to
vote for Pakatan, we will withdraw projects that have been given to
their longhouses.
“Nyarok is trying to exert his seemingly ministerial power to
threaten and instil fear in the people,” he said.
“What kind of politics do we have now? This is a sad thing. We
expect the coming election to be the dirtiest one, ” he added.
Money
politics
Bian was alluding to a recent allegedly secret poll which
claimed that BN could crash out in the coming election.
The poll had revealed that Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s Pesaka
Bumiputera Bersatu Party (PBB) was likely to lose at least 14 of
its 35 seats and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) at least 12
of its 19 seats. Both parties form the spine of Sarawak BN.
The two other Dayak-based parties – Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS)
and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Partiy (SPDP) – have eight seats
each. SPDP is also facing a tough fight in at least four seats.
Said Bian: “As the polling day gets nearer, they (BN) have to
resort to money politics and threats because there is so much at
stake, particularly for the chief minister and many of his
cronies.”
“Not only from the political point of view, but also business…
look at the businesses of those who depend on the government and
the chief minister for contracts and tenders,” he said.
“They cannot afford to lose and that is why they have to use
money to buy votes. It is now starting. We need to curb this,
otherwise it would stay. And we have to tell people to beware of
this kind of politics.
“It is going to go on and on until the last minute of the
election. It is getting worse.”
“Hopefully, we can curb and eradicate money politics and
eventually the people will beware of it and hope they will not be
duped by these threats.”
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/04/01/bn-using-army-soldiers-to-frighten-voters/