LISTEN….People listen to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speak at a rally in Kampung Bahagia near Batu Sapi last night.
By : CLARA CHOOI (MI)
WITH a day left on the campaign clock, the final hours leading to the Batu Sapi by-election will see Pakatan Rakyat (PR) go all-out in a desperate attempt to alter the mindsets of the people here.
The task is, however, a mammoth challenge and its leaders are finding it hard to change the deep-rooted sentiments of the people who think the world of small election gifts like zinc for their broken rooftops and hampers containing food for just over a month.
PKR elections director Fuziah Salleh recounted an experience in Kampung Lupak Meluas on Jalan Batu Sapi here, where villagers at first seemed caught up with the opposition’s promises of reform.
“They supported us and what we want to do for them but the moment Barisan Nasional arrived with their handouts of zinc and rice, they immediately said they had changed their views,” she told reporters yesterday.
This simplistic manner of thinking, she said, had been ingrained into the mindsets of the local folk here for decades.
“They wait, once in five years, for handouts like these but continue to live in poverty for the rest of their lives,” she said.
The Kuantan MP explained that in many villages, lists of names were prepared by local villagers to negotiate for support.
“They bring lists, with 100, 200, or even 2,000 names and they say, ‘okay, what can you give these people?’ They dare to negotiate like this, meaning this is what is taught [to them].
“But despite this, we still see the people living in abject poverty,” she said.
Fuziah cited the example of villagers in the Sanghai island settlement, where there was no running water, electricity or proper sanitation.
“Their children do not take baths because they only wait for the rain to clean themselves. If not, they bathe by the sea. Their toilets are open dumping grounds that lead to the sea.
“They have no electricity except for those who can afford generators. Their homes are on the water and in terrible condition. They have been living like that.
“Why can’t the BN build them a well? It is not expensive. Why can’t they build pipes to lead water into their homes?” the PKR election strategist said.
She expressed sadness that the children revelled in the smallest handouts and gifts of pens and some paper was regarded as toys to play with.
“Look at their hands and their faces... they are sticky because they do not shower. My heart bleeds for them,” she said.
Fuziah noted that in the final hours of campaigning, she was sure that the BN would use its large election resources to bear on the local folk of Batu Sapi.
“And these people are held at ransom with these tiny little gifts,” she said.
PKR’s final plea to the people, she added, was for them to open their eyes and see that they had “nothing to lose” if they voted for the opposition.
“They have never shown the BN that they have the power to decide their government. They need to show them this so that, at least, they will improve their services to the people,” she stressed.
Fuziah, however, expressed confidence that PKR had fast been gaining ground within some pockets within the community, both the Muslim Bumiputeras and the non-Muslims.
“There has been an improvement and we are very pleased with our campaign so far. We find that the Sabahans are ready to accept this new politics of change that we bring and they are starting to open their eyes,” she said.
She added that it was important that the people understood that no amount of money could buy sincerity, love, commitment or service.
“This is what we are offering. We may not have the money and we do not believe in buying votes but we believe in giving love and service and in being there for the people,” she said.
PKR’s Ansari Abdullah is facing BN’s Datin Linda Tsen Thau Lin and SAPP’s Datuk Yong Teck Lee for the Batu Sapi federal seat.
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