The DAP veteran was commenting on Minister for Communications and Multimedia, Salleh Said Keruak, hailing the Sarawak polls as “proof” that Barisan Nasional (BN) can win in the 14th General Election in 2018. “He’s wide off the mark.”
At least the Prime Minister, Najib Abdul Razak, was more realistic when he hailed BN’s victory as an indication of “Sarawakians’ confidence in Adenan’s leadership”, said Lim. “This is a very different matter from Sarawakians’ confidence in Najib’s leadership.”
“Najib tried to hijack the state election from Adenan by being the Santa Claus of the BN election campaign of money politics.”
Lim, who has been suspended from Parliament as Gelang Patah MP, was shedding one of the “several myths” born in the past 36 hours in the wake of the Sarawak state election.
Another myth is that DAP Sarawak had been dealt a devastating blow by the “crushing” setbacks in the Sarawak election, that there is a major swing of urban voters to BN and that it was strategic mistake for the DAP to reach out to make inroads into the rural heartland, noted Lim.
Although DAP Sarawak suffered a setback in the state election in Sarawak, added Lim, he was “uplifted” by the fact the electoral debacle on Saturday had not “crushed” the fighting spirit of DAP leaders and members. “They are even more committed and determined to press on with the DAP’s political journey to ensure justice, freedom and empowerment for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region.”
Lim was taking the position that a better understanding of the results of the state election on Saturday in Sarawak will clarify “certain misconceptions”. “For instance, the DAP-PKR clash in six state assembly constituencies was not the reason for the BN victory.”
He conceded that the voters were rightly disappointed and dismayed by the failure to present a united Pakatan Harapan front contrary to general expectations. “However, BN Sarawak’s rural grip is actually weakening and not strengthening.”
The very fact that the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Sarawak Chief Minister had to queue up to visit and “rain” Tasik Biru with gifts, projects and promises to foil the election of the DAP candidate Modi Bimol was an indication of not only the massive firepower in the BN Sarawak election campaign. “It was also BN’s realization that its hold on the rural hinterland is not all that invincible.”
The battle for the hearts and minds of Sarawakians and Malaysians must go on, continued Lim. “We are ready for the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections, the 14th General Election by 2018 and the 12th Sarawak state elections in 2021.”