The politics of development in the by-election of Sarawak’s Batang Air state assembly

Politics of development refers to the process of gaining political support of an electoral constituency by bringing or promising to bring in development projects into the area that would enhance the socio-economic status of the voting population there. This has been a very useful instrument in Malaysia particularly in areas that are yet to develop significantly. Among others, the development projects normally implied increased incomes, increased employment opportunities, increased business opportunities, and overall higher economic status for the people and electorates . In the context of the vastly rural Sarawak, communication and transport development projects were the favourite. This paper brings into focus the phenomenology of the ruling BN government’s politics of development with reference to the Batang Ai by-election held in April 2009. The results of this by-election had been deemed a crucial test and indicator as to which party will win in the forthcoming general elections of 2012. The BN had campaigned on the usual platform that only a BN ruled state can bring more infrastructural development to Sarawak and Batang Ai. Although this rethoric was highly arguable, the BN nevertheless won with a more than doubled majority, from 806 votes to 1854 votes. This proves the fact that the politics of development remains a vital instrument in shaping the political sentiment of Malaysian electorates at least in a relatively remote constituency such as the Batang Ai.