BY FLORENCE GENTA
JULAU: The Dayak community will stand to gain much more by continuing to support especially dayak and all other Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in the coming 14th General Election (GE14).
The resultant strong representation at the federal level could then work with their state counterparts to chart out many more development plans and strategies to fast track the community’s advancement.
This was said by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Secretary General, Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum during a Meet-the-People session at RH Nyanau Kelukut in Mujok near Julau yesterday.
Earlier on, he officiated the opening of a concrete pathway and water supply projects at the longhouse.
Salang said that at the state level, many Dayak leaders were already holding very significant positions in the government.
“Firstly, we have PRS president himself, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing who is one of the Deputies to the Chief Minister. He is also the Minister for Infrastructure Development and Transportation.
“Then, we have another Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who is in charge of the Ministry for Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development,” he explained.
Salang added that another Dayak leader is in the Ministry for Education, Science and Technological Research, Dato Sri Micheal Manyin Jawong as the Minister.
Additionally, the Ministry for Utilities is headed by Datuk Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
“If we could retain especially the present Dayak Members of Parliament, some of whom are very senior, these state leaders would lend them sympathetic ears based on the ties and friendship that they had formed over the years. We can also exchange ideas,” said PRS Secretary General.
Salang, who has been renominated by PRS to defend the Julau seat said that the community certainly needed all the help and attention it could get.
Commenting on the state manifesto for the election, he replied that it was basically formulated to advance the people’s welfare, well-being and progress.
He added that plans and strategies have been put in place for all basic infrastructure and amenities as well as increasing or upgrading of telecommunication facilities.
“These are all very pertinent matters to allow the state to achieve its digital economy objective.
“So now if you do not see them in existence do not assume that they are not coming.
“Some in fact are already in the early stage of implementation while others are at planning stage,” he said.
On ICT, Salang revealed that Julau now has 25 telecommunication towers and has the most among the regions in the state.
“We are looking at more than 10 coming,” he added.
Salang also presented minor rural project grants totalling RM419,000 to 29 longhouses in the area.
