Late Adenan will be eternally remembered, say political analysts

Barisan Nasional (BN)'s massive victory in the Tanjong Datu by-election yesterday means that the name and legacy of the late fifth chief minister of Sarawak, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, will be eternally cherished by Sarawakians, says a political analyst.

Datuk Peter Minos, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) publicity committee chairman, said Adenan would be forever remembered with great respect and honour, not only for what he did and said, but also as a great fighter for Sarawak's rights and legitimate interests.

As a leader known and perceived as clean, straight, humble and truly exemplary, Minos said Adenan had touched the people's hearts and that was why he was at the pedestal in people's minds.

In the Tanjong Datu state seat by-election, BN candidate from PBB Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, Adenan's widow, won with a bigger majority, garnering 6,573 votes to secure a 6,442-vote majority and beating her two opponents, Raphelson Richard Hamit of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) Baru who obtained only 130 votes and Johnny Aput of State Reform Party (Star) who got 108 votes. Both also lost their deposit.

Minos said Jamilah's victory meant that people continued to have faith and trust in BN as the leading party and ruling government, including the present chief minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg's leadership.

"People feel reassured and comfortable with Abang Johari as the new chief minister to continue defending Sarawak's rights," he told Bernama.

Minos opined that Jamilah had got the admiration and respect of the Tanjong Datu electorate, strucking people as most friendly and likeable, apart from having other fine attributes.

"This tells BN one thing, that a likeable candidate is a winnable one and for sure a good victory means a lot of hard work and efficient campaigning put in by many people in BN."

Minos said it was the first time he saw BN machinery in truly high gear where the prime minister, deputy prime minister, chief minister, deputy chief ministers, federal and state ministers and so many VIPs chipping in.

The help and support of the ordinary BN members, he said, were also truly remarkable and commendable and this took place because of the high morale, the 'feel good' factor and above all, the love and respect for the late Adenan.

"When people possess the 'like factor' due to good reputation and other means, victory is assured..that happened in Tanjong Datu," he said.

Meanwhile, political analyst from Universiti Malaya, Assoc Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi, when contacted by Bernama today, said there were various factors contributing to the victory.

He said the people in Tanjong Datu appreciated and expected a continuation of Adenan's legacy, while the impact of Jamilah's wow factor was evident when the voters gave her a landslide victory.

He said although Jamilah was unable to participate in the election campaign as she was still in her 'edah' (mourning) period, her high political personality had earned her 96 per cent popular votes.

Awang Azman said Jamilah, known for her people-friendly personality and her good leadership characteristics manifested by her involvement in several voluntary bodies, was able to convince the voters to vote her as their representative to the State Legislative Assembly.

He regards the decision by Abang Johari for Jamilah to stand in the by-election as a perfect choice which even he himself was surprised when Jamilah won with a very big vote majority.

Hence, he suggested that following Jamilah's covincing victory and her leadership qualities, that she be considered for an assistant minister post or be given a high position in the PBB Women's wing.

The other factor contributing to the massive victory, according to Awang Azman, was the hard work put in by the BN campaign machinery and development promises made by both the state and federal governments for the constituency.

Besides that, he said, the two other candidates from PBDS Baru and Star were not known to the people and the voters knew that they both could not bring any development to the people in the constituency.

"In fact, the opposition manifesto has already been implemented by Sarawak BN," he added. - BERNAMA