The incumbent Member of Parliament for Kota Samarahan (P197), Rubiah Binti Haji Wang is being fielded again in this 14th General Election (GE14) by her party Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) under the Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket because she is a winnable candidate and has played her role as a parliamentarian in the constituency in the past five years very well indeed.
She is among the four PBB women candidates being fielded in the GE14.
As an election candidate for the second time, Rubiah knows exactly what her constituents expect from her. In the past five years as a parliamentarian she has submitted many questions on issues relating to the nation and her own constituency.
In the recent parliamentary sitting, Rubiah has asked on the growth of the e-commerce industry in the country which has also become Sarawak Chief Minister’s main trust in the economic growth of the state.
Besides being the state’s education hub with two universities sited in it namely Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Universiti Teknologi MARA Campus. The Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency also has two modern shopping malls, the Summer Mall and Aiman Mall, an Army camp, Wisma SALCRA, Sarawak Heart Centre (Heart Hospital), National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) Complex and Institute for Rural Advancement (Infra) campus which is expected to be ready this June.
The proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) is also expected to connect Kota Samarahan to Kuching and Serian when the project is operational by 2028.
Being a former teacher, education is very close to Rubiah’s heart. Hence, it is very apt that she is representing the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency as it is an education hub and also known as the ‘Town of Knowledge’.
Last April, Rubiah announced that the Federal government has approved an allocation to build SK Merdang. The construction has begun since last March, ending the 12-year wait for the villagers of Kpg Merdang Gayam whose school-going children have been ‘squatting’ at SK St Martin in a shop in a housing estate near the village.
In the 13th General Election in 2013, Rubiah won the Kota Samarahan seat in a straight fight against PAS candidate when she polled 24,202 votes while her opponent polled 6,801 votes. This time round Rubiah will face two candidates, one from PAS and the other from PKR.
When interviewed after her candidacy for the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency was confirmed on nomination day last Saturday, Rubiah was very modest and said that she did not underestimate her opponents’ capabilities.
She added that her main focus is to enhance the people’s support and trust for the BN.
“I don’t take lightly my opponents’ capabilities and I consider this election reflects that democracy is thriving in the country. However, I will ensure that the Kota Samarahan parliamentary seat continues to become a BN seat,” she stressed.
Rubiah also knows areas under the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency very well as she was the District Officer of Asajaya from 2007 until 2013 and is aware of the people’s needs. She has travelled a lot in the constituency to check and meet the people to know their needs.
Last April 1, Rubiah and Stakan Assemblyman Mohammad Ali Mahmud launched the ‘Jualan Setuhan Rakyat ‘ in Sri Lestari Hall of Kpg Sri Arjuna at Jalan Puncak Borneo, Kuching.
According to Rubiah the event was the third in her constituency following the ones held at Asajaya and Muara Tuang halls previously.
“This is part of the initiatives taken by the Barisan Nasional government aimed at helping to alleviate the burden of higher cost of living of the people, especially those in the rural areas,” she said, adding that the special sale campaign was supported by Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) and Giant Supermarket.
Rubiah is also known to be a hardworking MP and is often on the ground to attend to her constituents. Her teaching background has been a great help in her political career.
She is backed by three PBB colleagues who are state assemblymen in Asajaya, Muara Tuang and Stakan, all in the Kota Samarahan constituency.
Rubiah is also concerned with the welfare of her constituents. When flood hit some villages in her constituency she was around to monitor the distribution of necessities to the affected families.
For her efforts the Malaysian Civil Defence conferred her with an Honorary Colonel rank for civilian during the presentation of financial aids to the flood-affected families on 21 April, 20i6.
Even while you are reading this article, Rubiah is already on a campaign trail meeting voters in the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency to inform them of her future plans if they give her the mandate on 9 May.
