By Peter Sibon
BAU, Dec 14: The GPS government will allocate RM500 million for developments in the Bau Blueprint which will be incorporated in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), revealed Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He assured that what have been promised by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), will be delivered as it is for the benefit of the people in Bau.
“I told the YBs (elected representatives) from here, as long as we (GPS) are in power, we will develop Bau. We will allocate RM500 million under 12MP.
“But when the time comes, the people will decide. This is not for me…but for you,” he addressed some 4,000-strong crowd who gathered at Krokong here today for the launching of The Blueprint for Bau District 2016-2030 in conjunction with GPS Leaders with People programme.
He pointed out that Sarawak as a whole including Bau, along with Lundu and Serian, these three Bidayuh majority districts in particular, will benefit from Indonesia’s decision to shift their capital to East Kalimantan.
“We will continue to focus on development of infrastructure. And with the Bau Blueprint, I believed Bau, along with Lundu and Serian, will all benefit from the decision of the Indonesian government to shift its capital to East Kalimantan,” he said.
Abang Johari, who is also the chairman of GPS, reiterated that it was imperative to share the wealth of Sarawak with everyone regardless of their race and religion.
“Sarawak are very united. We live together harmoniously and don’t focus on petty issues unlike the other side (Peninsular Malaysia) which is wasting their time on petty issues until the country’s economy is not properly managed.
“We even have Unifor (Unit for Other Religions) to take care of other religions beside Islam. We are the only one in the whole country which has this special unit, that is under the care of Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas,” he added.
The Chief Minister also took a dig at the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government for making promises which they could not deliver to the people.
“They said the promises they have made was not a bible. But for us, we are very serious in developing Sarawak. That’s is why it is very crucial for Sarawak to choose GPS to continue to lead because we know what our people need,” he stressed.
Earlier in his speech, Tasik Biru assemblyman cum the organising chairman Dato Henry Harry Jinep highlighted that the Bau District Blueprint was not something the committee plucked out of the sky.
“It is the result of planning and discussion by our Think Tank team set up in 2016, comprising the best of the best children in Bau district including academicians, technocrats, intellectuals,” he said.
Henry added that the idea was then developed through discussions between all stakeholders in Bau District involving Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, Opar assemblyman Dato Ranum Mina and himself, along with agencies such as the Bau District Office, Bau District Council and Bau Public Works Department.
“This blueprint is not exhaustive and final, but it is a roadmap to chart the development plan for the Bau District for the 12MP until Sarawak achieved developed status by 2030,” he added.
The focus components of the Bau Blueprint include basic facilities and infrastructure; housing and real estate; tourism, arts, culture and sports; agriculture, human development; land development and investment and industrialisation.
At the function, Abang Johari also presented grants totalling RM1.05 million to eight religious bodies from Bau district.— DayakDaily
