By Lian Cheng
SELANGAU, Nov 5: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) candidate Edwin Banta is confident that Selangau voters will choose Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) after being deprived of development for the last five years after the seat went to Baru Bian, who was an Opposition MP.
He believed that after five years under an Opposition MP, GPS will be able to wrest back the seat where he and two State assemblymen Datuk John Sikie Tayai (Kakus) and Christopher Gira (Tamin) may work together to fight for even more development for Selangau, the third largest constituency in terms of area size.
To him, it is crucial for Selangau to have a representative at the national level.
“They (Sikie and Gira) are doing State politics and parliament is Federal politics, so we must have a representative in Semenanjung, in Parliament. So I will do the talking. I will bring in national development. I will fight for our interests in the national arena.
“I have no doubt (of the commitment) of Datuk John Sikie in Kakus and YB Christopher Gira who are the ADUNs (State elected representatives) here. They are doing a very good job. But on the Federal site, we need a representative. We were denied development for the last five years when we were under Baru.
“What (development) did we have? We had nothing because we were under the Opposition. This time, we will wrest it back and we will work together with two local ADUNs, so that Selangau will enjoy the benefits from both Federal and also State governments,” Banta told the media after his successful nomination at Selangau Mulitpurpose Hall here.
On his vision, he said he seriously wanted Selangau voters to enjoy higher higher socio-economic status, with basic infrastructure available in every nook and corner of Selangau.
He also brought up the urgent need for telecommunication and internet coverage, especially for the students of Selangau.
To him, it was sad that in this digital era, students in Selangau were still forced to go around looking for internet during the Covid-19 pandemic so that they might have access to their online classes.
Apart from improving basic infrastructure and internet coverage for Selangau, Edwin’s third vision is to set up a skilled college for the youths.
“And I also want to have a collection centre because Selangau is an agriculture-based economy. With the availability of a collection centre, the local people can grow crops, and have a place where they can promote and sell their products,” said Edwin who stressed that a collection centre will indirectly improve the socio-economic status of Selangau people.
Edwin was confident of retaking the lost seat of Selangau for GPS not only because they need development, but because of GPS is a ruling coalition which emphasises on people-centric development.
Based on the handsome win under GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in the 2021 Sarawak Election, he believed the peaple of Selangau realised that Abang Johari is the man who can lead Sarawak, including Selangau, to development. — DayakDaily
