S'WAK POLLS DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has expressed concerns that the party may not fare so well in the upcoming Sarawak state elections if money politics will be the deciding factor.
"If the Sarawak elections on May 7 is going to be decided by money power, it will be a disaster for Sarawak DAP.
"DAP and Pakatan Harapan stand to lose in both our defensive and offensive strategies – in the case of DAP, defend the 12 seats we won in the 2011 Sarawak state general elections, or taking the offensive, making a political breakthrough by winning seats in the Dayak rural areas," he said in a statement today.
He was responding a Malaysiakini analysis today that at least five Chinese business tycoons and families members of wealthy timber merchants will be BN candidates in the upcoming Sarawak polls.
Lim appealed to Sarawak voters to vote in honour of the "sacrifices and life struggles" of late party leaders Wong Ho Leng and Karpal Singh .
"(This would) encourage political leaders to dedicate their political life to principle and the people’s rights and interests and not for self-gain, whether in amassing personal fortune, position or glory," he said.
He said even without the tycoons, the battle for Sarawak will be difficult for the opposition.
"It is going to be virtually an impossible mission to deny Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem two-thirds majority in the state assembly as Harapan will have to win at least 28 state seats."
He added any hope of beating the odds will also be shattered if Pakatan Harapan parties compete against each other in multi-cornered fights.
Pakatan Harapan had agreed on a national level to contest in straight fights with BN in Sarawak.
However, Sarawak PKR disagreed with that decision and insists on contesting in five seats that DAP is gunning for.
The five seats are Dudong, Pelawan, Pujut, Tanjong Batu and Repok.
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