A hugely complicated, centrally planned, social and economic system can only be kept on the rails for as long as people believe in it.
— Paul Kriwaczek, historian
“Rome wasn’t built in a day” is an expression that means it takes time to create great work. This type of great work is done by achieving layers upon layers of success over some time via persistence.
The one ingredient that is essential for this type of great work and success is uninterrupted stability.
We have seen steady growth and development in Sarawak. Over the last five years, many initiatives have been launched by the Sarawak government.
Many of these new initiatives and policies were initiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and will bring about rapid growth in our rural areas, towns and cities that many have been requesting.
A critical component of growth and development in our local areas, particularly in the constituencies we live in, is to ensure we have an elected representative who can attract investments and also sustainable government funding and grants.
Such funding will ensure that each and every one of our constituencies will have sustainable growth and development and are of particular benefit to the communities staying there.
This brings us back to the need of choosing the candidate from a party that will form the government.
Well, it is now election season and on December 18, voters will have the choice of selecting candidates for their constituencies.
Here, it is important to comprehend that the likelihood of GPS forming the next Sarawak government is very high. However, at the same time, we need to understand that to improve the chances of attracting investments and development funding into our constituencies, we need to have an elected representatives from GPS.
The opposition in Sarawak had the opportunity to do so during their 22 months in power at the federal level and was unable to do anything constructive. In fact, a large number of projects and funding were unfortunately cancelled by them.
In a conversation with the chairman of SUPP Pujut Branch in Miri City, Adam Yii Siew Sang highlighted that approximately RM7 to RM10 million per year can be brought into each constituency.
Multiply this by five years and this would equate to RM35 to RM50 million over his or her five-year term in office.
The funds referred to are the RTP, MRP and Unifor funds and grants. There are also other types of funds and various other projects and developments that can be nominated by the government.
Abang Johari at a leader-with-people session on Nov 24 in Miri said “… I have a team in Miri … a good team in Senadin, Piasau, Marudi, Lambir and Bekenu. It is only in Pujut that we don’t have a team (GPS assemblyman).”
What better way to help Miri City than to mirror the success of a previous team that brought Miri City to new heights. This was when we had Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr George Chan Hong Nam, a federal minister Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui and assistant minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.
Collectively, this triumvirate team worked towards Miri being elevated to city status and in the process brought significant development to Miri City.
Currently, in Miri City, we have a minister, Lee Kim Shin, a five-term assemblyman for Senadin who has a good track record of working hard and has brought many improvements to Miri and tremendous development in Senadin.
We also have Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, assemblyman for Piasau and an assistant minister who has, in his one term, also made significant improvements to the quality of life and welfare of the public in Miri City.
It can be observed that the Pujut constituency has been in the hands of the opposition since 2011 and has not been able to attract much funding.
As a person born and brought up in Miri City, I would dearly love to see it being lifted to greater heights for the benefit of all its residents and visitors. Your support is essential towards this objective.
Your vote on December 18 will ensure your constituency will be part of the rapid growth and development that Sarawak will see over the next five years and beyond.
Choose well for a greater and better Miri.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
