By William Issau
SIBU, Dec 10: The 13 longhouses in the N51 Bukit Assek constituency normally buzzing with activities during State elections are under a relative subdued atmosphere this election as physical campaigning is not allowed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While longhouses residents in 64 constituencies can meet their candidates as physical campaigning is allowed, albeit under strict standard operating procedures, those in Dudong constituency are not be able to do the same.
Speaking at a press conference today, Gabungan Parti Sarawak-Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (GPS-SUPP) candidate for Bukit Assek Joseph Chieng said the restriction affected all of the other five candidates fighting for the seat.
“There are over 500 voters in these 13 longhouses and we can’t reach them during this election. But I have reached them already as I visited them many months ago,” he said.
Chieng said as door-to-door visiting is prohibited, it is also hampering his efforts to distribute his election materials such as posters to the residents.
Touching on the response from the electorate, he replied that he had received encouraging response to his campaign through Facebook livestreams.
“During my FB live session from a coffee shop last night, the highest number of viewers was more than 300. After 14 hours, the number of views was 10,000. I have also received positive feedback from the viewers,” he said.
During a walkabout in Jalan Chiew Siik Hiong this morning, he said he could only raise his hand to say “Hi” to the people as he needed to abide by the SOPs.
Chieng said he had also almost completed putting up election materials such as banners, posters and fish tail banners in the constituency since nomination Day on Dec 6.
“We will finish doing that by today. Unless necessary, we will put up more or replace the damaged ones,” he said.
Meanwhile he said he would propose the construction of another link road to connect Jalan Wong King Hoe to the airport.
“This link road will ease congestion. If we don’t have this link road, traffic congestion will worsen in the next few years,” he said. — DayakDaily
