Rumours circulating for some time that Sarawak Chief Minister and Sarawak Barisan Nasional chief Abdul Taib Mahmud is to move to a safer seat for the coming state elections appear to have some truth finally.
When visiting the coastal town of Balingian on Monday, Taib's own party Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu's (PBB) local youth chief presented a petition purportedly on behalf of the local community calling on Taib to stand in the state constituency of Balingian.
The incumbent Abdul Jais Majeed, who is much younger than Taib, offered to step down, citing health reasons, in order to make way for the party president. Taib's own constituency is Asajaya in Samarahan near Kuching, and should he decide to defend his seat in Asajaya he will be challenged by his former deputy Abang Abu Bakar (also a former defence minister).
The opposition made a strong showing in the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency against Taib in the 1999 general elections. In a recent interview published in Malaysian newspapers, Taib admitted that he had lost to the opposition 2,000 of some 5,000 postal votes which he said were from the armed forces.
Taib's own majority in the parliamentary constituency (which includes Asajaya) was, as a result, drastically reduced. But he refused to acknowledge in the recent interview that this represented protest votes.
Friend turned foe
There has been concern within BN about a ground swell of support for the opposition. And although to many it is inconceivable Taib would lose even in Asajaya should be decide to stand again, his supporters would probably not want to take the chance, especially when Abang Abu Bakar's own support on the ground is believed to be growing.
Taib's supporters probably want to save their party chief the same embarrassment that Prime Minister and Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad faced in many predominantly-Malay constituencies where BN/Umno's majorities were drastically cut or where they lost to either PAS or Keadilan in the 1999 general elections.
During a Hari Raya open house in his posh villa on the other side of Kuching, Abang Abu Bakar received a seemingly endless stream of visitors estimated at more than 7,000 spread over two days. Among them were many Malay elders from Samarahan who had come to pledge support.
The interesting thing was when Taib visited Balingian, where most of the PBB's top brass reside, many turned out to welcome him, including Agriculture Minister and PBB vice-president Effendi Norwawi.
Supreme council to decide
Talk about Taib moving to another constituency which is regarded by PBB as much safer has been going on for some time. But Monday was the first time when there was a move from any of the constituencies presently served by PBB submitting a petition asking Taib to stand there.
Responding to the petition, Taib said he would leave it to the party's supreme council to decide.
Political observers are divided on whether the Chief Minister will make the shift. Taib himself has said privately that he is not afraid to contest again in Asajaya, even against Abang Abu Bakar. "Let's see who is more popular," he told one interviewer recently.
While some feel that Taib may be under pressure from some of his party leaders and supporters to take Balingian, others say the last thing he wants to show is any sign of cowardice.
"This is a man who has fought many battles and has not lost a single one since he entered active politics more than 30 years ago. What makes you think he will run away to a safer constituency?" one asked.
Boomtown
Samarahan is not just any constituency. It can be likened in a way to Mahathir's Langkawi. There have been a lot of changes, with new roads, new buildings, businesses and colleges. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is located near Kota Samarahan. The new International Medical Centre is also to be located there. There are mini industrial estates, major housing schemes and new government buildings.
Most people believe that it will be Sarawak's future Putrajaya where the state's administrative capital will be shifted to eventually. Samarahan is less than 40 minutes' drive from Kuching and is connected by a new road all the way from Kuching to Kota Samarahan and across Batang Samarahan by a bridge to new growth centres, such as Bandar Asajaya.
When people once referred to Nonok in the early years, Samarahan, a coconut growing area, immediately came to mind. Nonok is now Asajaya. There are now more economic activities and land in the Asajaya area is much sought after for planting. The area is also well known for belacan and catches from the seas.
Meanwhile, according to sources, Abang Abu Bakar's group is said to be preparing to come up with a statement in the event Taib decides to move away to another constituency. It probably never will have to.
TONY THIEN is a freelance writer based in Kuching.