SPAOH: Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has debunked claims by independent candidate for Betong that he will make a very good representative because of his previous long experience as political secretary to a federal minister as self-aggrandisement.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) 15th general election director said that Hasbie Satar was banking on his past experiences and official connections to woo the voters here.
He pointed out that the GPS candidate Dr Richard Rapu too had served as his political secretary since 2008 when he was a federal minister.
“In 2016, he followed me when I returned to serve in the state and continued as my political secretary. Qualification wise, our candidate is just as qualified as he is a trained veterinary doctor from a local university.
“But the thing that makes Dr Rapu as the best choice is the fact that he is representing the most stable and strong GPS state government. So, he has his platform which is in perfect agreement and harmony with the majority of Sarawakians.
“It is the GPS that is the one looking after Sarawak. If GPS is strong, we will all benefit as it can bring us greater progress and prosperity,” he said.
He said this at a meeting with sub-branch leaders and members from nine Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) branches in Bukit Saban at Penon and Nanga Gayau here on Wednesday (Nov 16).
The Deputy Premier reiterated that a vote for Dr Rapu is a vote for GPS thus it is a vote to protect Sarawak rights in the Dewan Rakyat.
“It is a vote to restore more of Sarawak’s eroded rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.
He also said it was very important that GPS has as many representatives as possible in the Dewan Rakyat so that they could support those policies which were fair and beneficial to the state.
“On the same token, they can veto those policies detrimental to us. But an independent and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate here want to deny us of such power.
“They are not serious and only want to take over Betong for their own ambitions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Uggah is leaving nothing to chances despite the optimism shared by GPS here.
He had suggested for the respective sub-branches to embark on their third and final round of campaigns until before midnight on Friday.
“Please engage the young and new voters to come back and vote. Woo them to support our candidate. Also watch out for the black sheep in our midst who are out to sabotage us,” he said.
At the meeting, Uggah was told of the happy news that some Rimbas area members of a local opposition party had now decided to support GPS.
“They had ditched the red tee-shirt associated with that party. They are now proudly wearing the white GPS tee-shirt,” a local leader said.
Dr Rapu in his speech earlier expressed his gratitude to Uggah, Betong incumbent Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat, all visiting and local GPS campaigners for their assistance.
“We definitely have a strong winning team which speaks volumes of the solidarity, unity, the singleness of purpose and camaraderie in GPS,” he said.
