Snap sending 'silent killers' into battle

They may not have the means for all the pomp and fanfare of BN and Pakatan Rakyat, but SNAP is not sitting idle.

Shunning the elaborate - and expensive - psywar that has become a staple between the two coalitions, Snap has opted for what it believes is a more effective, and cheaper, campaign strategy.

The oldest Dayak-based party, formed in 1961, has been sending in "silent killers" to quietly win over support amidst the sea of BN and Pakatan flags flooding Sarawak's roads and villages.

It is understood that Snap has been hold meet-and-greet sessions with voters, in what it believes is the best strategy to win the hearts and minds of the Sarawak electorate.

Party workers even jokingly refer to their campaign as taktik lipas (cockroach tactics), referring to Snap's clandestine operations in reaching out to voters.

A Snap campaign manager, who spoke on condition that he not be named, admitted that the party was clearly outgunned in funds, which was why it chose to announce its candidates early for them to start laying their groundwork even before the start of the campaign period.

The manager noted that the ill-fated seat negotiations with PKR contributed to Snap's decision to draw first blood, as this would give the Sarawak-based party more time to reach out to voters.

"Without money, we cannot fight BN. We don't have as much money as BN (to campaign). We only have time (as our capital), and the other parties don't have this," the campaign manager said.

Longhouse ‘agents'

The time-versus-money argument is most apparent in the longhouses in the rural areas, where many Ibans live.

It is here where the BN has reportedly enforced "blockades" against opposition politicians, made possible by the tuai rumah or headmen, most of whom are government appointees.

As Snap's candidate for Lingga, Abang Osman Abang Gom (picture above, standing) explained, they only make their moves into the longhouses at night - macam lepeh (like cockroaches)."

Abang Osman, Snap's sole Malay candidate and making his third attempt at wresting the Lingga seat, said if all else failed, the party would make sure there were at least agents among the locals to launch silent campaigns.

The campaign includes giving voters full-sized party flags and yellow postcards bearing the faces and names of the Snap candidates - promoting their slogan of being parti asal bangsa Sarawak (the original party of the people of Sarawak).

However, Snap is not completely denying the importance of making a visual impact, with the campaign manager admitting that the party's flags and banners would be up by election day this Saturday.

"If we put up our flags, BN has many and we have little. So we will look weak," the manager said to explain the party's strategy.

The situation nevertheless is a little different at Bukit Saban, where Snap is confident its youth chief Dayrell Walter Entrie can notch a win - as indicated by the presence of party banners put up at strategic locations in the constituency.

'Four A' rating seats

Bukit Saban is among four "A" areas that Snap is confident of winning, based on factors such as candidates, party workers and hardcore support in those areas. The others are Pakan, Machan and Lambir.

The party is also hopeful of its chances in Lingga, Bukit Begunan, Bekenu, Engkelili, Telang Usan and Tarat.

However, Snap's candidates for constituencies along the 200km-long Sri Aman-Sarikei road acknowledge that they are going in as the underdogs.

At Bukit Saban, Dayrell (left) raised concerns over whether or not voters who are working in the cities - estimated at 30 percent of the 7,657 registered voters - will be able to return to cast their votes.

Marudi @ Barudi Mawang, who is contesting the Engkelili seat, and Layar candidate Joe Unggang, acknowledged the strength of the BN campaign machinery, which Marudi described as having money at its fingertips.

Meanwhile, the situation in Krian is seeing the PKR candidate, businessman Ali Biju, far ahead of the pack.

Snap's campaign focuses on five core issues - native customary rights (NCR) land, the Allah and Al Kitab rows, state development, the 18-point agreement on the formation of Malaysia and Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's 30-year rule.

The party is contesting 26 seats, 25 of which are three-way battles with BN and PKR.