I have read many reasons accounting for BN’s success in the recent Sarawak poll. Some said peninsula opposition parties do not understand Sarawakian issues. They do not understand ‘Sarawak belongs to Sarawakians’ first and last. They do not understand Sarawak has the right to exclude arbitrarily peninsula Malaysians from entering the state.

Some said it was a low turnout. Some said Sarawakians should form their own opposition parties from which they then form coalition with federal opposition from peninsula. Some said it was lack of opposition unity from which the opposition parties must draw lessons. Of course, some would say it was the Adenan Satem factor.

Seriously, why are we not calling a spade a spade? BN won because there was uneven playing field in financing, in dissemination of influence and information, in campaigners present on the ground and in the way constituencies are demarcated. Also, why don’t we attribute BN’s success to lack of understanding and tenacity among Sarawakians on governance issues affecting them?

In a society where cash is king and money is everything, I think we are being idealistic to ignore the power of money in campaigning and influencing people. We are being unrealistic to ignore how logistics and machineries play a major part at the last minute. Unless and until we are able to rectify and reform campaign financing, it is foolish to ignore this factor.

It is actually a fallacy to say that peninsula politicians and political parties do not understand ‘Sarawak is for Sarawakians’. We can easily single out communities in Sarawak who do not feel they belong to the state government in term of policies, services and performance.

Asking Sarawak politicians to form their own opposition parties from which they then form coalition with federal opposition from peninsula is another big hoax. It shows lack of understanding in challenging an incumbent government well-endowed with resources and power.

If the federal opposition from the peninsula can’t cause a dent on BN, what hope is there for home grown opposition from within the state, even with guidance and support from peninsula Malaysia?

We should not accept the state’s immigration power over peninsula politicians and the court decision thus far as a fait accompli. It is an abuse of democratic process which may repeat itself even if the opposition takes over the state government some day. We need to rectify what is fundamentally wrong, not to accept it as fact of life.

Why are we so easily taken in by the Adenan factor as a major contributor to BN’s victory? In what significant and fundamental ways was there change in policy and governance under him? Why not call a spade a spade - it was the lack of tenacity and understanding among the Sarawakians to look beyond the frills and to focus on the fundamentals.

Of course opposition disunity and selfishness is a major factor causing the defeat which I think many have highlighted the peril even before the election. It is time for Pakatan Harapan to stop pretending there are lessons to be learned from their shortcomings in the 11th Sarawak state election to prepare them for the next general election. I think there are no luxuries of lessons any more. It is either they cooperate and give in to each other or the nation shall suffer with them.