By Goh Pei Pei and Natasha Jee
KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), as the backbone of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government, has been told to step up efforts to win the 15th General Election (GE15).
PBB Deputy President Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said it was important to win big in the coming parliamentary election to ensure Sarawak can continue to defend its rights and interest.
He said the GPS Government must ensure all the projects, including initiatives and promises listed in the 12th Sarawak state election manifesto last year – would be fulfilled and implemented according to schedule.
“We must not wait for the election but continue to address the various issues faced by the people, including dilapidated schools, rising prices of goods and cost of living, welfare of the elderly or senior citizens, rural development, internet connectivity, among others.
“As for the (PBB leaders) federal ministers, we hope they can fight for more federal grants for Sarawak, including to boost the tourism industry and bring in more tourists,” he said.
The Deputy Premier was speaking at the opening of the Youth and Women convention at the PBB 15th Triennial General Meeting (TGM) at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Uggah has urged the PBB Youth and Women to act as its ‘eyes and ears’ of the government in explaining and getting feedback from the ground on government’s programmes, projects as well as policies.
“Thus, I appeal to the PBB Women and Youth members to understand the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 and explain it to the grassroots community and assist them to take part in the various initiatives listed under the strategy. This will benefit the people,” he said.
“Don’t wait for the election and do it now,” he stressed.
The Bukit Saban assemblyman also said PBB managed to achieve a landslide victory in the last state polls, winning all the 47 seats contested due to the leadership of the party president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as well as the hard work and cooperation among the PBB members.
Apart from that, Abang Johari’s decision to form GPS in 2018 was a firm and bold move and necessary to ensure greater and continuous focus towards returning the rights of Sarawak as enshrined and stipulated in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63).
Today, the Sarawak-centric coalition is well accepted by the people of Sarawak as a stable government that has successfully defended their rights and interests.
“GPS has proven that we can develop Sarawak according to our own mould (without influence of outsiders), and we will continue to champion the plight of Sarawakians,” Uggah said.
The future of Sarawak lies in the hands of Sarawakians and we will decide our own destiny,” he stressed.
