Politics.... *groan*

Politics.... *groan*

So the Sarawak state elections are finally over.

Any surprises? According to The Star, there was. To the ruling coalition. As for me, I'd say they had it coming. I remember watching the CM on the news, and him smugly saying he was confident it would be a clean sweep, and that he felt increasing the seats this year to 71 would ensure a greater victory for the coalition (considering the fact that during the previous election, they lost only 1 seat to the oopposition... hmmm.... but I also distinctly remembered a state-wide blackout for a couple of hours then). Right....

Here are the results:

The four-party state coalition lost in major constituencies in Sibu and Kuching. Yes, the major cities/towns. Chinese majority areas.

Of the 71 seats contested, the state coalition lost 9 seats:

6 went to DAP: Bukit Assek, Meradong, Kidurong, Pending, Batu Lintang and Kota Sentosa

1 went to SNAP: Engkilili (Dayak majority) :) heyy.... the Dayaks near where my daddy comes from has some discerning prowess....

1 went to PKR: Padungan... BN lost PADUNGAN! To Keadilan!

1 went to an Independent candidate.

What did the CM have to say for such astoundingly obvious loss? From The Star, May 21: "At his Demak Jaya house where state Barisan leaders were gathered, Taib said he did not know why, but added betting could be a factor." WHAT??? I have nothing to say... really...

"On PKR's win, Taib said it did not mean that the party was making inroads into Sarawak." No? The state coalition lost a major constituency in the capital city of the state to PKR, and they're not making inroads? Okay... if you say so.

Maybe they aren't. Maybe the people of Kuching and Sibu are just trying to tell the coalition something imperative in keeping a government. Maybe the people are trying to tell the ruling coalition to not rest on their laurels. That the people still have the power when it comes to checks and balances in State Parliament. That they would practice that power and that right, regardless of how small a wave it would make. Small wave better than no wave at all, no? Maybe the people of Kuching and Sibu are trying to tell the ruling coalition to not be too smug about victory. And to not take things for granted. That if they're not happy with what's going on, they can and WILL give the mandate to someone else. Important lessons, those. Not just in politics, but also in life. Every action and consequence would always require a post-mortem. :) Not to be morbid, being in the medical line, but it's true. To keep it fresh, to keep it real.

What do I think about all this? I think: About time....

Granted when it comes to Sarawakian politics, so many things require great tact and sensitivity. The delicacy of the socio-economic situation of the state hangs in the balance. The delicate situation between state and federal government hangs in precarious balance as well. So many things that are unspoken, or spoken only in the hushest of voices and in the most comfortable of groups for fear of censorship. And yet, really, does the coalition truly believe that the people would still continue to give them mandate of the stewardship of a rich, potential-filled, burgeoning state when they see that their trust has been rewarded by slacking. I love my state, perhaps more so than I can ever love the whole of which it is a part of. It's wild, and beautiful, and steeped in culture and tradition. It's a land of contraries and extremes. There's lush beauty in it's wildness, and yet there's something avant garde about it's old world charm and traditions. And I am greatly saddened to watch it's resources constantly mismanaged, and the cultures of it's people put to the test time and time again.

Yes, it's about time... perhaps it would be a wake-up call.