Majority of Chinese voters root for Jamilah

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LUNDU: BN candidate Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu has received overwhelming support from Chinese voters in the constituency, more than her husband the former chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in the last state election.

While it is difficult to tell from other polling centres, the polling centre at SJK Chung Hua Selarat in Kampung Perigi tells the full story.

There were 171 voters at this polling centre and out of the total number, 160 were Chinese. Yesterday, a total of 108 people came to vote and the result shows that Jamilah won handsomely, garnering as many as 105 votes.

This is not surprising. During the May 7 state election last year, out of the total 173 voters in this polling centre, 107 of them voted for Adenan.

In the last state election, Adenan’s popularity was at 89 per cent.

For this by-election, Jamilah’s popularity is at 97 per cent.

Kampung Perigi is known to be one of places in Sematan/Lundu area that has bauxite desposits and Adenan had promised the villagers that he would not allow bauxite mining to be carried out in the area.

After his passing, the worried Chinese villagers were given the reassurance from Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg as well as Santubong MP who is also BN Tanjong Datu by-election director of operations Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar that bauxite mining would continue to be banned here.

It was thus expected that Jamilah would be given a big mandate in the area.

The relationship between the couple (Adenan and Jamilah) with the villagers was so close that a Chinese community leader Penghulu Khiu Nam Fah of Kampung Perigi was in tears while recalling what Adenan and Jamilah had done for the village during a BN meet-the- people session recently.

After Perigi, the next polling station with high percentage of Chinese voters is SJK Chung Hua Lundu.

From the total voters of 1,810, there are 858 Chinese voters or 47 per cent of the total.

Here, Jamilah has the support of 1,044 voters out of the 1,093 votes cast.

Councillor Chen Chung Yee, who was manning this polling centre, observed that Chinese support had increased with many of them turning up to vote for Jamilah.

“The support from the Chinese for BN candidate in this by-election has increased even more compared to the support given to Adenan in the last state election,” Chen said when met yesterday.

Another polling centre with sizeable Chinese voters is Sebemban area with Chinese voters making up 35 per cent. In this by-election, the turnout rate was low.

However, out of the 257 votes cast, 233 were in favour of Jamilah.

In Sekambal area where Malays, Dayaks and Chinese have been living side-by-side, there is also significant Chinese support.

Out of the 566 voters, 31 per cent are Chinese.

The voter turnout was, however, low with 360 voters coming out to vote for Jamilah out of the 369 votes cast.

Other Chinese voters can be found in Pueh (29 votes), Sebat (19), Seling (95), Stunggang (18) and Sampadi (87).

There are 9,959 eligible voters in Tanjong Datu, a Malay majority seat with 5,259 voters.

The 1,768 Iban voters make up 18 per cent of the total voters while Chinese (17 per cent with 1,693 voters) and Bidayuh (1,021 voters or 10 per cent).

The Chinese, despite being the minority here, have been well taken care of by the late Adenan.

It is thus natural and understandable that Chinese voters are giving their royalty to Jamilah whom they see as effective, caring and fair like Adenan was.