PAS-Amanah tussle in Sarawak worth observing

Observers will be keenly following to see whether PAS which is aiming to wrest a constituency or two, and its splinter party Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), which is making its debut in the 11th Sarawak state election can "pull it off" on polling day, May 7.

PAS, which has never won in Sarawak, is contesting in 11 constituencies this time around, more than double the number of candidates (5) it put up in 2011.

Amanah is contesting in 13 constituencies.

For political analysts, the move by the Semenanjung-based political parties are no more than to push their presence in the state political arena.

They said based on academic surveys and reality checks, it would be difficult for both parties to win even one seat, for two reasons.

Firstly, PAS and Amanah's respective ideologies have not been readily embraced by the people in Sarawak and secondly, Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem whose approval rating among the locals has skyrocketed to above 80 percent, is obviously too popular to beat.

However, they did not rule out the possibility that PAS could get a higher number of votes "in protest of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates".

University of Malaya's political science lecturer, Assoc Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi told Bernama there are chances that PAS and Amanah might garner extra votes due to the unfulfilled promises by incumbent BN candidates.

"It doesn't mean they actually favoured PAS, but the voters thought their voices were not heard enough. That's why some chose to protest," he said.

PAS is contesting in Pantai Damai, Samariang, Muara Tuang, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau, Beting Maro, Kakus, Jepak, Samalaju, Lambir and Pujut.

It will face Amanah in Samariang, Muara Tuang, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau and Beting Maro.

Amanah is also contesting in Demak Laut, Gedong, Kakus, Kuala Rajang, Semop, Daro, Jemoreng and Balingian.

Awang Azman said, in 2011 some of the swing votes went to PAS due to lack of political commitment by the incumbent BN candidates.

"However, the fact that Amanah is also contesting for the same seats (this time) could cause split votes and possibly an easy ride for the party which they should be fighting together – Barisan Nasional," he said.

He cited Beting Maro state seat, where PAS candidate Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus in 2011 gave a tough fight to BN new face Razaili Gapor who won by a narrow majority of 391 votes.

This time around, incumbent Razaili is in a three-cornered fight with PAS and Amanah candidates.

Meanwhile, Dr Mohd Faisal Syam Abdol Hazis of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said PAS and Amanah should be focusing on two or three seats, due to their lack of resources.

"To contest in 11 and 13 seats respectively is absurd, unoptimistic and not based on reality checks. Plus all those seats they're contesting are actually BN strongholds.

"Actually it does not make sense at all. They have to remember that this is Sarawak we are talking about, where most of the constituencies are larger than Perlis to put it in perspective, and some are even bigger than Pahang alone," he said.