By Roslan Mutu
KUCHING, Oct 27: Betong incumbent Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat is confident that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) through Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) can retain the Betong parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15) as it is a GPS and PBB stronghold.
He added that Betong has been PBB’s stronghold since the era of Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu Numpang managed to wrest back the Layar State seat from the Opposition in 1974.
“(Datuk Patinggi) Tan Sri Jabu has been instrumental in making Betong a PBB stronghold through his visionary development planning and implementation which encompasses all fundamental sectors such as education, agriculture, and basic infrastructure,” Lawson told DayakDaily today.
“This includes road networks, a hospital and public utilities such as water and electricity which have improved the socio-economic status of the people of Betong until Betong and Saratok districts were elevated as Betong Division.
“Later on with the leadership of Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is presently the Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Betong became more formidable for PBB.
“And now with the four of us from PBB/GPS in Betong, including Datuk Amar Douglas who is the Bukit Saban assemblyman, Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu (Layar) and Mohd Razi Sitam (Satibas), PBB has become even stronger,” he explained.
As such he was confident that GPS will prevail in Betong in GE15.
“Additionally, our main economic activity centred on agriculture especially on oil palm, pepper and rubber have greatly uplift the livelihood of our people,” he said.
Lawson also highlighted that the STOL (short take-off and landing) airport which is being built in Spaoh will create an effective logistic network to market local products to big cities once it is completed in the near future.
When asked about his re-nomination to defend the Betong seat, Robert was coy on the subject and said he would leave it to GPS’ top leadership to decide.
Lawson, 64, won the Betong parliamentary seat in the GE14 when he secured a majority of 8,116 votes in a three-cornered fight.
Robert is currently the chairman of Bintulu Port Authority. — DayakDaily
