BINTULU: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) members and other members of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties must work hard to prevent the Kakus and Tamin state seats from being captured by the opposition in the next state election.
“We have lost the Selangau seat to PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) in the last parliamentary election.
“We must not lose Kakus and Tamin. We must win,” said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
He said this when officiating at a pre-Gawai Dayak dinner gathering organised by PBB Wanita Kakus here on Friday night.
Uggah, who is PBB deputy-president, urged the people to support all GPS candidates.
“When your overwhelming mandate is given to the GPS government, it can soldier on with its job of defending the state rights, wealth and immigration autonomy among others.
“In development matters, it, too, has its own programme for the whole state.
“In the field of agriculture, for example, we are now actively transforming the sector to be a modern, high-tech and commercial one.
“We aim to be a net food products exporter by the year 2030 and by then, too, we want to completely eliminate poverty in the state,” he said.
Uggah, who is also Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, revealed that a Durian Tree Rehabilitation and Maintenance course would be organised for farmers in the two areas this July.
He said last year, the state managed to export 100 tons of durian paste to China.
He added for this year, plans were afoot to increase the exports to more than 200 tons and advised the rural folk to grab the opportunities in the agricultural sector.
“You all have huge tracts of land and you all have been known to be hard working.
“These are the fundamentals that you already have. Combine them with modern agricultural inputs to increase your productivity and income,” he advised.
Uggah pointed out that the GPS philosophy of “Sarawak First” amply demonstrated that it was giving priority to all state interests and that of its people.
He said that he would talk to the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on the need to have more development projects allocated to Tamin and Kakus. He would also talk to the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recorda) on its development plans for the areas.
“Kakus state assemblyman Datuk John Tatai Sikie informed me that the two areas still need more roads, power and treated water projects,” he said.
Uggah also revealed that the relationship between the state GPS government and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government was still very good and friendly.
“State leaders are often invited to Putrajaya to discuss important issues.
“For instance, I have been appointed the joint chairman of a committee to monitor the implementation of federal projects in the state together with Work Minister Baru Bian,” he added.
He later announced a RM30,000 grant to the Kakus PBB while John chipped in RM10,000 and GPS secretary general Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi gave RM5,000.
The Kumang Gawai Contest, held as one of the evening highlights, was won by Debby Allisandra Unyi while Pretty Sophia Banting and Bibiana Jimbun came second and third respectively.
Debby went home with RM1,000 cash, Pretty RM800 and Bibiana RM500 plus other extras from Datin Melia Bajok, John’s wife.
