The relative calm in Betong belies the true atmosphere as the parliamentary seat is a battleground for three different personalities with impressive backgrounds and experience.
The constituency is witnessing two experienced political secretaries who had served at the federal level and a brilliant former principal, who is also a leading song composer.
Dr Richard Rapu, 59, was a veterinary officer with the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) before joining politics – encouraged by Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas in 2008. At that time, Uggah who was the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, saw the potential in him.
In 2013, he followed Uggah when the latter served as the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities. Uggah later returned to Sarawak to become the deputy chief minister (now known as deputy premier).
Dr Richard, from Rh Danau, Spaoh, continued to help Uggah in his area pro bono, before he was appointed as political secretary to the Chief Minister of Sarawak/Premier of Sarawak. Dr Richard earned the confidence of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and was nominated as a candidate for Betong in the 15th general election (GE15).
His opponent, Hasbie Satar, 49, is no less great. Hasbie, who hails from Kampung Spaoh, Betong also once held the same position.
The difference is Hasbie was appointed as a political secretary when he was the Administrative and Diplomatic Officer at the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Considered to be of extraordinary talent from the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) at that time, in 2001, he was appointed as a special officer to the special advisor to the Prime Minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad).
When his boss, Tan Sri Noh Mohamad Yaacob was appointed as Second Minister of Finance under the administration of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Pak Lah), Hasbie was appointed as senior private secretary in 2004.
In 2008, he was appointed as political secretary, a task he held until 2010 involving the two prime ministers at the time, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Through this position, Hasbie actually gathered valuable experience because he was not among politicians, and the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) members, like his other counterparts, who were working for UMNO ministers.
Therefore, he needs to establish ties with many individuals, companies and politicians, to facilitate his work and his career.
Based on this background, the clash between these two political secretaries needs to be seen from a positive angle.
They market their respective experience to approach the people and look into their needs.
The only advantage that Dr Richard has is that he represents GPS, which is currently the government at the state level, while Hasbie, is an Independent candidate who uses the boat symbol.
Therefore, Hasbie has to admit that it is not easy to challenge a coalition that he actually respects. He said he is running as an Independent candidate because he is confident that he can give the best contribution to the state and his constituency.
However, both have great talents that are much needed in the development of Betong and the state in the future.
When Dr Richard assured the people that he has a good relationship with all GPS assemblymen, Hasbie, who is now a prominent businessman, vowed to use his influence and network of connections to bring more allocations to the constituency.
This is because he said, those who are in the civil administration and the political ranks of the peninsula at the moment, are his friends. Therefore, it is an advantage for him to communicate and discuss with them if he is appointed as an MP.
Another contender is Patrick Kamis, 58, an outstanding former principal at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pusa who retired early because he was nominated as a candidate.
He does not need any introduction as he is actually well-known as a composer who created hit songs of the 2000s era.
Patrick, a Pakatan Harapan candidate who once contested in Saribas in the Sarawak state election in 2021, said his agenda is clear, which is to ensure that development is brought to Betong without being left behind.
Debak-born Patrick said the development that should have been enjoyed by Betong for the past 20 years, can only be possible today.
For the record, Betong has actually been a GPS-Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) stronghold for a long time. Here, Uggah built a legacy by winning it for seven consecutive terms since 1986.
And he won twice unopposed – in 1995 and 1999. When he moved to the Bukit Saban state seat, the seat was handed over to Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat (Barisan Nasional) in 2018.
Lawson garnered 12,517 votes to defeat Independent Abang Ahmad Abang Suni (4,401 votes) and PH’s Noel Changgai Bucking (3,802 votes).
Betong has 41,712 registered voters, with 19,283 of them being Malay/Melanau; 18,981 Iban and 2,636 Chinese.
For the record, this parliamentary constituency has three state seats, namely Layar, Bukit Saban and Saribas. These three DUNs are represented by GPS.
