SIBU: Members of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) were once again reminded not to lose sight of the fact that their party was established to fight for the rights of Sarawakians to decide their own future.
Also, the party does not represent only one race, said SUPP Bawang Assan branch chairman Robert Lau Hui Yew, who stressed that SUPP wanted the best leadership for Sarawakians irrespective of race.
“To achieve this, we must make the best use of talents and this has to start with the political leaders otherwise we will lose our best people to other countries,” he said during a belated Chinese New Year dinner held in a restaurant here last Saturday night.
SUPP president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian officiated at the dinner.
Lau pointed out that Bawang Assan and Sungai Bidut area had seen better days, and the development had seriously fallen behind compared to other parts of Sibu.
“Yet this area produced the most talents for Sarawak. I just have to compare Sungai Bidut area with Sibujaya over the last 30 years.
“Sibujaya grew from nothing to a new township of 30,000 people. Soon, a new road will link Sibujaya to Salim. It will continue to be the growth centre for Sibu and the Central Region of Sarawak,” he said.
Sibu, Lau argued, needed long-term planning and not just a master plan for the physical infrastructure as the government must look at the whole picture with the basic foundation resting on the economy that would create wealth and rewarding jobs and business opportunities for the next generation.
He said Sibu needed industries that could create a sustainable economy and the best way forward was still agriculture.
“We need to transform our agriculture by increasing the yields and productivity by at least 10 times in order to be competitive in the export market.
“As comparison, look at the Sunkist oranges imported from Florida, USA. The price is lower than or about the same as the price of local oranges.
“It should be the reverse given the plentiful land, cheaper labour cost and weaker currency,” he explained.
Lau then called on the people to give SUPP a chance to provide leadership for Bawang Assan and be part of the Sarawak-first team led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“We knocked on every door since 2015 preparing for the 2016 state election and again we worked hard for the 2018 general election. We did as instructed by party leadership to strengthen the party and not self.
“We do not believe in buying your support. We do not believe in making empty promises. We do not believe in lying to gain power.
“We believe in telling the truth and being fair. We believe everyone has the right and a chance for a better life irrespective of race. We believe this is the only way for our branch leaders to win the trust of all communities in this place,” he said.
