BN sure to retain Serian and Mas Gading, says political observers
KUCHING, May 4 (Bernama)--Barisian Nasional (BN) will face no difficulty in retaining two out of the three Bidayuh majority parliamentary seats in the 14th General Election (GE14), said local political observers.
The two easy seats for BN are Serian and Mas Gading where Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem and Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Nogeh Gumbek are defending them respectively.
Puncak Borneo is another Bidayuh predominant seat in which the BN is fielding a new face Genot @ Jeannoth Sinel to replace the four-term MP and Deputy Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos who did not seek re-election due to health reason.
Genot is involved in a three-cornered fight against seasoned candidate for PKR Willie Mongin and STAR's candidate Blun Patrick Ribos.
Unfortunately BN choice of candidate for Puncak Borneo is being questioned by the voters in the constituency for his involvement in some land issues in the area.
Sarawak BN is targeting to win 29 out of 31 seats contested in the GE14. In the GE13 BN won 25 seats while DAP won five and PKR one seat.
A political observer Joseph Jindy, who is Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) vice president, said Mas Gading voters will give their votes to BN and not DAP, adding that the reasons lies on the good working relationship between state assemblymen for Tasik Biru, Datuk Henry Harry Jinep and Opar assemblyman, Datuk Ranum Mina together with Nogeh.
"All three (Nogeh, Henry and Ranum) can work very closely with each other. Nogeh moves every week in Mas Gading during his tenure in office, plus he is a deputy minister," said Joseph.
DAP is banging on the national issues in their campaigning which Joseph said is not likely to make any major impact to a mostly older generation of voters in Mas Gading.
"Don't really know much on their strategy to win Mas Gading but BN might get added votes," added Joseph.
Meanwhile a Bidayuh community leader Pemanca Michael Sitien said Mas Gading voters did not see DAP as a threat.
"There is no issue because even the Chinese are saying that the two of them (Nogeh and Henry) are doing a lot for the Chinese," said Michael.
In Serian constituency, BN's candidate Riot is hugely expected to be victorious with huge majority.
He is being challenged by PKR's Edward Andrew Luwak @ Andrew Luwak and independent candidate Senior William Rade.
"His opponents are small guys and untested and Riot can and will flatten them," said a voter who identified himself as Mike Dureem, 33.
--BERNAMA.
