INCUMBENT:
Douglas Uggah Embas (BN-PBB)
Last 05 May, 2013 Election Result:
1. Douglas Uggah Embas (BN-PBB): 15,476 votes
2. Cecilia Siti Una (PR-PKR): 4,589 votes
Majority: 10,887 votes
THE parliamentary seat of Betong comprises the state seats of Sar ibas (N.35), Layar (N.36) and Bukit Saban (N.37) which are currently represented by Mohd Razi Sitam (BNPBB), Gerald Rentap Jabu (BNPBB) and Douglas Uggah Embas (BN-PBB) respectively. Betong has witnessed tremendous changes in terms of economic development, road connectivity, electricity and clean water supply since its elevation to a division 15 years ago.
It has become well known for its agro-based industries and has established itself as a forefront in transforming vast areas of land into oil palm and mini rubber estates.
It has also become one of the major producers of these commodities in the whole of Sarawak.
A major joint-venture project between the State Government and China’s Guangdong Gengken Rubber Group to plant rubber trees in Betong and export their by-products, processed products to China provides the residents in the rural constituency with an opportunity to be part of a large-scale commercial agricultural scheme and opens a door for other future international economic collaborations.
In June 2017, the State Government announced Betong as the new fruit collection centre in the vicinity of Layar Agriculture Station in an effort to help the local farmers sell their fruits.
The centre is to help boost the income of farmers throughout the state. It was a collaborative effort between the state government and private sector, and covered 300,000ha involving four constituencies. It also created new job and business opportunities.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah also announced the establishment of the Sarawak Agricultural Product Export Corporation in Betong for managing the exports of Sarawak agricultural products to overseas markets.
The corporation will ensure that there are sufficient export orders on a sustainable basis for the smallholders and local plantations owners. With a population of 116,000 comprising 50 per cent Malays, 43 per cent Ibans, 5 per cent Chinese and 2 per cent others, Betong has a total area of 4,180.8 sq km.
It is the smallest of the administrative divisions of Sarawak with the most number of administrative sub-districts namely Pusa, Spaoh, Debak and Meludam, Roban, Kabong and Budu.
Since the introduction of the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) more than RM40 million had been spent to improve infrastructure in Betong. In 2016, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak officially declared the opening of Sarawak’s second Rural Transformation Centre in Betong.
The palm oil business has become one of the prominent prime movers of the economy in the Betong division, especially in Saratok district.
Moreover, it has bridged the economic gap between the urban and rural areas by providing many job opportunities to the local people. For example, in Roban South palm estate, a total of 737 participants are involved in running both small and large oil palm plantations.
This led to the active participation of longhouse dwellers for the past 27 years and brought about significant changes to the population in Betong.
In education development, Betong is witnessing a big transformation with the establishment of Polytechnic Metro, Giatmara, and Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) which recorded one of the best SPM results in the State in 2016.
Betong town i t sel f which decades ago was only a small rural trading outpost with gravel roads is today a busy town with rows and rows of multi-storey shophouses lining its tar-sealed streets. St . Augustine Scondary School, established by the Anglican Church many years ago is known to have produced a number of prominent Dayak leaders for the nation.
