SIBU: Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (BPP) Bawang Assan branch plans to hold a gathering of its members either next month or in November.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who is also PBB deputy president, the leaders want to explain to them the directions of the ruling coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Uggah said this at a gathering of the Women and Youth leaders and committee members last Saturday evening.
“We too want to enhance the party’s presence in Bawang Assan by taking greater care of our 2,000 or so registered members. In past elections they played crucial roles in determining the winners in the constituency and are expected to do the same in future,” he said.
Uggah said the gathering too would allow members to know the latest in GPS’ people-centric development plans and programmes.
In the meantime, he called on them to make preparations for the next state election which should be held not later than 2021.
“Bawang Assan has been a stronghold of the ruling party. The incumbent Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh has won the seat no fewer than five consecutive terms.
“But he is now not a member of GPS and has in fact formed his own political vehicle, Parti Sarawak Bersatu,” Uggah said, adding that this time around it is very important for GPS to win the seat.
On the GPS component parties which would be given the trust to contest the Bawang Assan seat, Uggah said it would up to the top leaders to decide.
“But the bottom line is the candidate, if he wins, must take care of the welfare of all members of other GPS component parties.
“We have often heard of complaints from them of being sidelined in the implementation of development projects and programmes.
“This must not be allowed to happen again in the overall interest of all, especially as GPS is a new entity,” he said.
Also present the event were PBB Bawang Assan branch chief Romeo Christopher Tegong and three of its recently appointed councillors.
Romeo was commended by Uggah as under his leadership the PBB sub-branches in Bawang Assan had increased to 11 from two within the last two years.
