KUCHING: Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) is optimistic it will secure a greater win in the next general election (GE14), compared to the previous national polls.
Chief Minister and Sarawak BN chairman, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg, said the optimism stems from last year's state polls and his observation of the present political mood.
"Based on my sixth sense, I believed (Sarawak BN) will contribute more Parliamentary seats to the ruling coalition in the GE14.
"Not only will we retain Parliamentary seats belonging to the ruling coalition, I believe Sarawak BN can also wrest a few seats held by the opposition coalition.
"I have faith that we can contribute at least 25 Parliamentary seats to BN," he told reporters during a session with the media, in conjunction with his 100 days in office as Sarawak's sixth Chief Minister here, today.
Present were his two Deputy Chief Ministers – Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Tan Sri James Jemut Masing, and a number of ministers and assistant ministers in the state cabinet.
Also in attendance was State Secretary Tan Sri Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani.
In the 2013 general election, Sarawak BN won 25 of the 31 Parliamentary seats in the state. The DAP and PKR trailed behind with only five and one Parliamentary seats, respectively.
Asked if Sarawak BN is confident it could woo more voters from the Chinese community, Abang Johari said the state government has been adopting and introducing policies which are friendly to all quarters, including the Chinese community.
He said acceptance of the policies introduced by the BN-led state government, by the Chinese community, is clearly reflected in the state polls.
"During the state polls, which concluded on May 8 last year, we managed to wrest back state seats won by the DAP, including Repok, Batu Kawa, Piasau and Meradong.
"My feeling is that with good policies in place, more people will throw their support behind BN," he added.