While the opposition is going all out for their grand finale rallies in major urban areas tonight, BN is pushing its propaganda through all major local dailies, stressing that BN is confident of retaining its  two-thirds majority and highlighting the sudden attack of prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin on PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Borneo island’s largest English daily The Borneo Post dedicated its front page to Najib Abdul Razak’s response to Raja Petra with the headline “Vindicated by truth”.

The story was followed by another item on the same page that read “RPK: Anwar no longer credible”.

Meanwhile Malay daily Utusan Sarawak led with the headline “Singkir pembangkang” (oust the opposition), giving prominence to Najib’s statement that Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian would put all Sarawakians in danger should the latter become chief minister.

NONEAnother article on the front page entitled “Appreciate Taib’s 30-year contribution towards the development of Sarawak” applauded the efforts put in by Abdul Taib Mahmud to transform Sarawak into one of the most advanced states in Malaysia, while stating that Taib had announced that this election will be his last.

Almost all the articles in the inside pages of both dailies were pro-BN.

There was also a full-page advertisement featuring an open letter to voters entitled “Appeal to Sarawak voters” signed by both Najib and Taib. It promised better development and called on voters to “continue voting for the BN and make Sarawak a prosperous, progressive and harmonious state”.

The same advertisement also appeared in Chinese dailies.

NONEThe Kuala Lumpur-based New Straits Times published an analysis on its front page that read “Dayaks are with BN, observers: Chinese also drawn to Najib’s leadership”.

In the local Chinese dailies, both See Hua Daily News and United News led with Najib’s statement that the BN will retain its two-third majority.

Sin Chew Daily appeared more balanced by splitting its front page in the middle with the titles “BN whitening black areas in final 24 hours” and “DAP could win at least 11 seats”.

But the inside pages of all Chinese dailies continued to give more room to BN news. Although Pakatan’s rallies in urban areas had attracted larger crowds compared with BN’s dinners and concerts, they were mostly placed at the bottom of pages, leaving the main space for BN’s events.

Advert shows photos of crowds at rallies

However, DAP managed to highlight the huge crowds at its rallies NONEthrough a full-page advertisement that showed photographs of  the events  in various cities and towns.

Advertisement of candidates from both sides also took up many pages in the Chinese dailies.

Besides the Chinese candidates, PBB strongman Abang Johari Abang Openg who is contesting the Malay-Melanau-majority seat of Satok, also ran a full-page Chinese-language advertisement.

The issue of  the SUPP condemning DAP for calling it “Orang Utan” continued to receive wide coverage. The photograph of SUPP candidate for Batu Lintang, Sih Hua Tong, wiping away tears over the incident grabbed the headlines in all Chinese dailies.

NONEA full-page advertisement denouncing DAP over the “Orang Utan” tag, allegedly sponsored by “a group of Chinese Sarawakians”, was also spotted in Chinese dailies after its debut yesterday.

SUPP’s warning that Chinese would lose important government posts and representation was repeated in the Chinese dailies today.

Another BN message that cut across all dailies regardless of language was  regional sentiment. An advertisement banner that called on Sarawakians to stay united and reject peninsula parties was spotted on the front pages of all dailies.

Meanwhile, both DAP and PKR have complained that their advertisements in local Chinese dailies had been censored.

According to Miri DAP election committee publicity chief Chow Yu Hui, Sin Chew Daily has requested them to modify their two full-page advertisements, while other Chinese dailies had published the original advertisements.

In the first advertisement, DAP showed the overwhelming crowd response at their Miri ceramah with the text of “When Miri stands up, Sarawak will have a future”. But the text was rejected by Sin Chew Daily which wanted it to be amended to “Change in Sarawak means every day is a good day”.

The second advertisement was to introduce their 15 candidates, but one of the words in the text - “clean governance” - was rejected by Sin Chew Daily and amended to “equality”.

“This is unreasonable,” said Chow.

He also revealed that the party has also cancelled its plan to publish a smaller advertisement due to the same reason.

Meanwhile, according to Chinese news portal Merdekareview, Batu Lintang PKR candidate See Chee How also faced the same problem yesterday when his open letter was censored by Sin Chew Daily and See Hua Daily.