The current Sarawak state government mandate will expire this July, and many has been predicting that the current Chief Minister from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will desolve the state council latest by end of this month.
This is due to the Malaysian constitution, that an election should be called within the period of 60 days after the dissolution of the State council or Parliament. With the expiry date coming closer by the day, the speculation that Taib Mahmud would call for a state election is rife.
The state election would become as an acid test for the ruling coalition, as the benchmark of their performance and popularity among the rakyat, before the Parliament is dissolved and a nationwide General Election would be called.
Analyzing the mood of the Sarawakian on grass roots level recently, the ruling coalition still holds favorable position among the Bumiputera strong bed. Judging from past results, and the fact that literacy rate and internet and communication infrastructure is very much lagging in Sarawak's mountainous landscape compared to the Peninsular Malaysia, it is safe to assume that the rural Sarawakian is still "detached" to the political scene at large in West Malaysia.
However, the state's opposition coalition, lead by Peninsular-based Democratic Action Party (DAP), the oppositions are making in roads into the larger urban areas in Sarawak, especially in cities like Kuching and Miri, and also larger towns with significant Chinese voters such as Sibu and Bintulu.
The ruling coalition has kick-started the election fever with ceramahs and public celebration with goodies and allocations given out to schools and the local community. These are further signs that the state election is just around the corner.
On the questions whether the Federal government would dissolve the Parliament to hold a simultaneous General Election together with the Sarawak State Election, it is very unlikely. According to a very reliable source, the Federal government would want to see the implementation of various economic projects and investments announced earlier to gain support from the rakyat, as it will be a prove that the government's economic policy is favorable to investors, and that the government is able to bring development to the rakyat.
Among the big ticket projects announced for implementation this year is the Klang Valley MRT project and the Sungei Besi Airport development project.
This is due to the Malaysian constitution, that an election should be called within the period of 60 days after the dissolution of the State council or Parliament. With the expiry date coming closer by the day, the speculation that Taib Mahmud would call for a state election is rife.
The state election would become as an acid test for the ruling coalition, as the benchmark of their performance and popularity among the rakyat, before the Parliament is dissolved and a nationwide General Election would be called.
Analyzing the mood of the Sarawakian on grass roots level recently, the ruling coalition still holds favorable position among the Bumiputera strong bed. Judging from past results, and the fact that literacy rate and internet and communication infrastructure is very much lagging in Sarawak's mountainous landscape compared to the Peninsular Malaysia, it is safe to assume that the rural Sarawakian is still "detached" to the political scene at large in West Malaysia.
However, the state's opposition coalition, lead by Peninsular-based Democratic Action Party (DAP), the oppositions are making in roads into the larger urban areas in Sarawak, especially in cities like Kuching and Miri, and also larger towns with significant Chinese voters such as Sibu and Bintulu.
The ruling coalition has kick-started the election fever with ceramahs and public celebration with goodies and allocations given out to schools and the local community. These are further signs that the state election is just around the corner.
On the questions whether the Federal government would dissolve the Parliament to hold a simultaneous General Election together with the Sarawak State Election, it is very unlikely. According to a very reliable source, the Federal government would want to see the implementation of various economic projects and investments announced earlier to gain support from the rakyat, as it will be a prove that the government's economic policy is favorable to investors, and that the government is able to bring development to the rakyat.
Among the big ticket projects announced for implementation this year is the Klang Valley MRT project and the Sungei Besi Airport development project.
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