SPAOH: Associations of longhouse chiefs play a pivotal role in supporting the government to develop Sarawak.
Betong Member of Parliament Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat said since such associations were great influencers for the rural folk to accept development plans and programmes, longhouse chiefs should therefore keep themselves in the know of all such plans and programmes in their areas.
“They should be able to identify opportunities which their ‘anakbiaks’ (followers) could exploit like those in modern agriculture which the state government was promoting,” he said.
Chuat was representing Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah at a pre-Gawai dinner here on Saturday night. It was organised by the Spaoh Tuai Rumah Association under the leadership of Tr. Joseph Suat Andrew Mara, and was attended by residents from 41 longhouses.
In the case of the Spaoh sub-district, he said, it was part of the Bukit Sadok Agropolitan and the Betong-Mukah Food Basket development areas.
“In Spaoh too we are going to have an airstrip at Bebuling which is being built now. This is to transport our farm products to the market.
“We must justify this RM108 million project by having the quantity and the quality,” he added.
Chuat said the agriculture programmes were also aimed at helping them to generate stable income to raise their standard of living.
On another matter, he thanked voters in the Betong Division for staunchly supporting the GPS candidates in Bukit Saban, Layar and Saribas.
“Now we have Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah of Bukit Saban reappointed as deputy premier while Layar and Saribas assemblymen Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu and Mohd Razi Sitam respectively were appointed as deputy ministers.
“This is unprecedented… something we should be proud of… we should continue with our support for the continuity and soon we may have the parliamentary election.
” GPS should again be strongly supported to retain the Betong seat,” he said.
On the COVID-19 pandemic, Chuat advised all those eligible to go for their second booster dose.
Joining him at the gathering were his wife Datin Claudia Regina Jan ting, a political secretary to Sarawak Premier Dr Richard Rapu, Bintulu Resident Datu Jack Aman and community leader Temenggong Richard Mulok.
