SIBU: A total of six branch chiefs (ketua ranting) from Kampung Sentosa, Salim were appointed to represent the Iban community by the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Bukit Assek here yesterday.
Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek emphasised that this decision was made to enhance his service to the residents in his constituency.
“As Kampung Sentosa both Phase 1 and 2 consists of individual houses, it is deemed more systematic to have a designated leader who can serve as a link between the government and the people.
“But for Sentosa itself, as I explained earlier, because they are individual housing so that will be easier for me to have the branch chief,” he said at SUPP Bukit Assek Pre-Gawai celebration here yesterday.
Meanwhile, when asked on the role of the branch chief, Chieng likened their responsibilities to those of longhouse chiefs.
“So, basically they will serve in the capacity of tuai rumah (longhouses chief) that would be easier for me to communicate with the local Iban communities in Sentosa.
“They will be attached with our SUPP Bukit Assek. So, whenever they have problems at Kampung Sentosa they can look for the chief branch. They will be able to give feedback to me right away,” he said
Also present were SUPP Bukit Assek branch chairman Datuk Chieng Buong Toon, councillor Raymond Tiong and others.
