MIRI: The state Barisan Nasional commands the biggest voter support compared to other states in the just-concluded 13th general election.
In pointing this out, Sarawak Barisan Wanita deputy chief Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the statistics showed that 480,138 had voted for Barisan compared to Pakatan’s 340,508.
“It means that some 68% of the total number of those voting in Sarawak on May 5 remained loyal to the Barisan,” Fatimah, who is also Women, Welfare and Family Development Minister, said when she addressed some 1,000 people during a Mother’s Day gathering organised by PBB here, Sunday night.
She said it also meant that Sarawak enjoyed the highest popular vote among all the states.
“This is Sarawak’s contribution to Barisan at the national level, which is by no means small,” Fatimah said, adding that Sarawak and Sabah combined made that contribution even bigger.
On the role of the state’s women in politics, Fatimah said the fact that all four women candidates fielded by Barisan won spoke volumes of their contributions.
She went on to praise the women in the state for playing a big role in helping Barisan return to power.
She said Barisan women had played an important role, not just during the campaign period, but also through their outreach programmes for the people.
On the way forward, she said: “Barisan did very well in the polls but there is much more work to be done. We must start our ground works now to face the next state election.
“It is going to be tougher than the recent general election because all the big guns from the opposition will be setting their sights on Sarawak all at once."
Fatimah also said it was important to analyse the results of the May 5 polls to know the trend.
She said the Sarawak results showed that the scenario in the urban and rural areas had changed significantly.
“Factors at play in the urban and rural constituencies have changed.
“In rural Sarawak, development issues are still important in the context of basic infrastructure, amenities, education and health facilities.
“In urban areas, all these are already there. Voters look at other factors in deciding where their votes should go.
“Barisan must look at all these factors and adjust its strategies to enable it to remain relevant to urban voters,” she said.
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