The Malaysian Insight

RISING living costs, broken promises on affordable homes, scrapped fishermen’s living allowance and lack of jobs are among the issues that DAP is grappling with as it heads into tomorrow’s Sandakan by-election.

The party is also facing an uphill battle as most of the constituency’s young voters from the Chinese community, which forms the backbone of its vote bank, are working outstation and unlikely to return to cast their ballots.

To make up for the shortfall, DAP and its allies in Sandakan are ramping up efforts to secure Malay and Bumiputera votes.

The Pakatan Harapan component expects only a 35% turnout of the more than 20,000 Chinese voters, forcing the pact to turn to other races.

Of the 40,000 voters in Sandakan, 51% are Chinese, Sabah Bumiputeras (26%), Malays (16%) and others (7%).

DAP does not have the support of non-Chinese in the parliamentary seat, and will depend on parties, like Parti Warisan Sabah and United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusunmurut Organisation, to capture Malay and Bumiputera votes.

The state’s Bumiputera community has a major gripe over the federal government’s U-turn on low-cost housing (PPR) ownership.

Abdul Harris Bolah, 56, a PPR resident in Sandakan, said he is upset with Putrajaya’s decision to turn the rent-to-own scheme into a tenancy deal.

“We were promised that the units would come under the rent-to-own scheme, but the PH government decided to cancel this arrangement, and we are now just tenants,” said the father of six.

The Grab driver said with his income, he would never be able to own a property, adding that the PPR programme had been the best option for him.

There are nine PPR areas in Sandakan, with their units numbering close to 10,000, and the cancellation of the rent-to-own scheme could turn into a backlash against DAP.

A Parti Bersatu Sabah campaign worker believes that negotiations are ongoing between state government leaders and Local Government and Housing Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to revert to the previous rent-to-own scheme.

A quick check with state Local Government and Housing Minister Jaujan Sambakong confirmed this.

If the negotiations are successful, DAP could easily get more than 10,000 votes from PPR residents, a quarter of the voters in Sandakan.

The party, despite its aggressive campaign over the past two weeks, may see Chinese support reduced as local youth are unhappy with the lack of employment opportunities.

Many Chinese youth have been forced to look for jobs in Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.

Shai Kok Ling, 23, is among those looking at moving to the Sabah capital.

“I lost my job two weeks ago. Most of my friends from school have advised me to go to Kota Kinabalu for work.”

Vivian Wong, DAP’s candidate in the by-election, has admitted that graduates are unable to find jobs in Sandakan.

The party is also reeling from a federal policy to end fishermen’s living allowance.

Kg Sim Sim fisherman Dahlan Salem made it clear that his family will not vote for PH due to this issue.

“It was our only source of aid when the rainy season comes and we are not allowed to fish. We don’t go out to fish 365 days a year. There are days we don’t catch fish at all.”

According to the district’s fishing association, some 4,000 members are affected by the government’s move.

While fishermen lament the loss of the allowance, a common complaint across the constituency is the high cost of living.

Lucas Romeo, who works at Sandakan airport, said he is affected by the rising prices of goods.

“They said prices would go down after the goods and services tax was abolished and replaced with the sales and services tax, but that did not happen. Instead, I see that the prices of some goods have gone up.”

El Meroe Jonius, an administration officer attached to the district police station, said nothing has changed since PH won Putrajaya and Warisan, Sabah.

“They talk about the 1Malaysia Development Bhd corruption and attack former prime minister Najib Razak. But they have done nothing to deliver on their pledge to return Sabah and Sarawak rights.

“They have failed to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s status as equal partners by amending Article 1(2), and refused to implement what’s already in the federal constitution, such as 40% revenue and 20% oil royalty.” – May 10, 2019.