SPAOH: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas says the Betong parliamentary constituency has a worthy successor in Dr Richard Rapu.
According to him, Dr Rapu—a veterinarian by training—is qualified as he has been serving in the Betong parliamentary and then Bukit Saban state constituencies for some 14 years.
“He has the necessary exposure needed.
“He joined me when I was a federal minister as a political secretary to the Prime Minister in 2008 for eight years.
“In 2016 when I came back to serve in the state Cabinet, he joined me as a political secretary to the Premier until now.
“He has travelled the length and breadth of Betong many times over with me and Betong incumbent Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat. He has helped us a lot.
“As such, he has very intimate knowledge of the rural situations in Betong along with the people’s expectations and hardships,” Uggah said.
He said this during two election briefings for 11 Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) sub-branches at two different venues here on Tuesday (Nov 8) joined by Lawson.
Touching on Lawson’s decision to step down, Uggah said Lawson had made his decision to quit politics to him and former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang six months ago.
“We had persuaded him to stay on but he said he had made his decision to give way to a new and younger leader.
“From our observation and discussion, Dr Rapu is the best candidate to take over from Lawson, even our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg agrees.
“So we hope all Betong voters, including the Undi18 and new voters, will give their fullest support to Dr Rapu as a GPS candidate.”
Meanwhile, touching on the coming election, as the GPS election director, Uggah called on the people to beware of those stirring sensitive sentiments to win over their votes.
“Anang sesat di bai antu kamba. (Do not be led astray by the Kamba evil spirit).
“Malaya and racial issues have no place in a racially harmonious and united Sarawak. Let us keep it that way. All races need to respect each other.
“And to our campaigners, let us all work very hard to keep Betong for the ruling government like we had done for more than 40 years.”
