KUCHING: Winning the eight Bidayuh-majority state seats alone is not enough, said Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
“More importantly, we want to make sure that our people will be part and parcel of the state’s overall socio-economic development including agriculture, tourism, business and trade, etc,” he said.
Henry said this to New Sarawak Tribune yesterday when asked to comment on a statement by Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong that GPS would be able to deliver all eight Bidayuh-majority seats in the next state election.
Manyin, who is Education, Science and Technological Research Minister, made the statement when approached by reporters at a Gawai Dayak open house at Dayak Bidayuh Nasional Association (DBNA) centre here last Monday.
Tasik Biru is one of the eight Bidayuh-majority seats. The other seven are Opar, Serembu, Mambong, Tarat, Kedup, Tebedu and Bukit Semuja.
The incumbents are Manyin (Tebedu), Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Mambong), Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn (Tarat), Datuk Ranum Mina (Opar), Martin Ben (Kedup), Miro Simuh (Serembu) and John Ilus (Bukit Semuja).
Henry said that on the whole, incumbent Bidayuh assemblymen have definitely been and will continually work hard to deliver the government’s promises to the people.
“I myself have not had a break since day one of becoming an assemblyman. My colleagues too have been doing the same. We all have gone to the ground, met our people of different backgrounds in order to know and understand them better, listen to their issues, give them assistance and continue to motivate them.”
He said the people wanted their presence felt and they had never failed to be around especially during the time they are really needed.
“We can’t expect outsiders to understand them but it must be us. Of course, we can’t guarantee to assist 100% but at least give them some comfort rather than nothing,” he said.
Henry said basic infrastructures were almost all in place but the Bidayuh needed to be socio-economically vibrant.
He said to allow people to continue to be part of these development agendas, opportunities should be made available by the state government.
In this context, he said, “So far, the state leadership has been accommodative enough to allow us to have our native customary land (NCL) titled, tilled and tilting and have value.
“We want a solid voice and unity to make our objectives met. We can’t stay divided if we want to have a big plan for our own people,” he said.
On a separate issue, Henry said Bidayuh belts, encompassing Bidayuh heartland, stretching from Lundu to Serian, has plenty to offer and it was up to the Bidayuh to explore and stay focus.
He advised the Bidayuh community to stay away from empty promises especially when it was from outsiders.
“Their interest is not for our people but rather a mere game of mind and wisdom. Forget about politics of rhetoric, we must stand by something of a substance,” he pointed out.
