BETONG: It is not in Sarawak’s interests to support political parties like Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), said Betong MP Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat.
He pointed out that when the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, comprising the two parties and others, was in power many development projects for the state was cancelled.
“It has been a bitter experience for us. While claiming that the PH government had no funds for the Sarawak projects which had already been approved, the Finance Ministry under Lim Guan Eng approved hundreds of millions on new projects in Penang and Kedah,” he said.
He said this at the Bukit Saban Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) launch at Rh Ambu in Suri Tengah and Rh Simon Benifis at Babu here, last Saturday.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also Bukit Saban assemblyman, officiated at both functions.
“If PKR or DAP were still in power in the central government, we can expect a lot more unpleasantries.
The most glaring now is the repair of dilapidated schools in the state.
“Despite the state government paying in advance a sum of close to RM1 billion of its debt to the central government last year, the Ministry of Finance until now has failed to reallocate the amount for the repairs as promised earlier on,” he said.
He added that there were other promises made but also remains unfulfilled until now.
Touching on the political crisis in Kuala Lumpur, Chuat said the people should leave any crucial decisions state matters to its GPS leaders headed by chief minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“They will decide what is best for the state. Let us not dwell too much on the problem in Kuala Lumpur as we are not directly affected,” he said.
He also called on voters in Bukit Saban to continue with their strong support for Uggah in the upcoming state election.
“Uggah is competently continuing with the fine tradition of past government leaders here. We have a good road network serving almost all longhouses and villages here,” he said.
Chuat said these longhouses and villages all enjoyed electricity, clean water supply and efforts are ongoing in many other development activities and programmes.
“Uggah’s main focus now is to bring in income-generating modern agriculture,” he said.
At both functions and two others held a day earlier, Chuat distributed grants totalling RM99,000 to the women bureaus of 33 longhouses.
Political secretary to the chief minister Dr Richard Rapu was among those present.
