By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Jan 27: The result of the Cameron Highlands by-election should serve as a “morale booster” for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in facing the next state election, which is due in 2021.
But Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women chief Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said GPS must look at the result properly as there is a lesson to be learned on why the Barisan Nasional (BN) won and Pakatan Harapan (PH) lost.
“The result has given us some sort of indication, and the message to PH from the people in the Cameron Highlands is that they still want BN. They voted for BN in that particular constituency.”
Fatimah said this to reporters after handing over welfare aid to needy members of Kuching Bodhi Path Society here today.
She added that the Cameron Highlands’ result showed that the people could not be fooled all the time. She believed the voters had taken note of the weaknesses of the PH federal government and, thus, opted to vote for the BN.
“In the end, the truth speaks. I believe they (weaknesses) can be seen by the voters there. Outside the constituency, others see the weaknesses, too, and the list of promises under their (PH) manifesto that were never delivered.
“What they said before and what they do now are very different. So, with that kind of picture, I believe that is why the people voted for BN and rejected PH.
“For us GPS, who will be facing the next state election, such a result should, in a way, give us a morale booster.
However, Fatimah cautioned that elected representatives must not be complacent.
“Let us remind ourselves that we must not only work hard but be sincere in our service in order for us to continue to put the people of Sarawak first.”
Fatimah, who is Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, emphasised that the people wanted their leaders to be honest despite all the challenges facing them.
“People can feel the differences if we continue to reach out to them, to touch their hearts and to engage their minds that GPS is committed in its struggles for our rights as Sarawakians and at the same time to develop the state.”
Fatimah observed that things had changed after PH won GE14 (last May 9), and Sarawak now had to depend on its own resources as many projects had been cancelled by Putrajaya.
“We cannot rely on PH, and we have to do it our own way. We have to find revenue to help us implement projects that have been cancelled. These projects are needed for the progress of our people, in terms of infrastructure, in terms of welfare, education, health and others.”—DayakDaily
