KUCHING: The political atmosphere in Bukit Semuja remains largely unchanged although the Sarawak state election may only be months away.
Apart from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which is widely expected to field its candidate in the constituency, there are no visible signs of intensified political activities from other parties on the ground.
Incumbent state assemblyman, John Ilus, said the situation in Bukit Semuja is still calm for now, with no unusual political movements detected in the area.
“Things look normal here (Bukit Semuja), at least for now. Yes, it looks like DAP is having a candidate and moving around in a specific area,” he said when contacted.
But overall, he added, there is no aggressive campaigning or heightened political activity taking place in the area yet.
John said except for some project delays, there are no major issues in Bukit Semuja.
He acknowledged there are growing concerns among constituents over development projects that were announced but have yet to take off due to slow approvals, and hoped that the issue will be addressed promptly.
John, who represents Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), has been described as a dedicated representative focusing on community development, infrastructure improvements, and social welfare initiatives in the area.
The elected Supreme Council member in the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) first won the Bukit Semuja seat in 2016 and then successfully retained it in the 2021 state poll with a 4,705-vote majority.
Observers noted that political activities usually gain momentum only when the State Legislative Assembly is dissolved and the election date is officially announced.
While DAP has been mentioned as a likely contender in Bukit Semuja, observers noted that its presence on the ground has yet to translate into large-scale campaigning efforts.
Bukit Semuja, a semi-rural constituency, has traditionally seen contesting parties intensify their efforts closer to polling day rather than months in advance.
The low-key environment reflects a wait-and-see approach adopted by most opposition parties.
For now, like any other seats, Bukit Semuja appears to be maintaining its steady pace with the Sarawak Government’s community programmes and development activities continuing as usual while voters seemingly more focused on bread-and-butter issues than political rhetoric as the countdown to the polls continues.
