By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Oct 14: PSB president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh should look into his own backyard first before thinking of taking over the state government, says PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
He said Wong, who has been the Bawang Assan assemblyman for the past 30 years should prioritise development in his own area to ensure that his constituents have all the basic amenities.
“He did not do what is good for his own ‘kawasan’ (constituency). What he should have done is do what is good in your house first before you criticise others. Look at your own backyard first. Is your backyard clean or not?”
Masing claimed that in Wong’s 30 years as the elected representative for Bawang Assan, the latter did not build any roads until Masing came in.
“The one he had before was done by Jabu (former Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang) when he was the Minister of Infrastructure,” Masing told a news conference here today.
Masing who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development reiterated that if the Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president was so eager to take over the Sarawak government from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) he must prove that he can develop what he has in his own constituency before claiming he could bring development to other rural areas.
Masing expressed belief that Dayaks, especially the Ibans, would not be easily hoodwinked by the opposition when it comes to development matters.
“I don’t think the people are easily hoodwinked now especially when it comes to social media. People are very learned and not easily convinced.”
He claimed Wong had contributed little to Bawang Assan residents throughout his years as their assemblyman, and to the state as a whole when he was the Second Finance Minister as he did not find any way to generate extra income for Sarawakians.
Masing also claimed that many residents of Bawang Assan are still without basic amenities such as water and electricity supplies, and roads.
“He has accused me of not building roads in my ‘kawasan’ (in Baleh), that’s why I’m looking for the road here (in Bawang Assan). That’s why I said before you accuse others, you look at your own backyard first. Did you do anything for Bawang Assan which is just a stone’s throw away from Sibu (town)?” he asked.
Masing also took the opportunity to rebut allegations that the GPS government especially Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) had neglected his constituency of Baleh.
He highlighted that there were two bridges which have been completed there, which the PSB leaders themselves have used to reach Tunoh.
The two completed bridges are the Baleh Bridge which cost RM87 million and the newly completed Ng Mujong Bridge which cost RM36 million. A road to Tunoh is now being constructed at a cost of RM50 million.
Meanwhile, an additional RM1.5 billion has been allocated for the Upper Rajang Development Agency (Urda) to provide greater road connectivity in Kapit Division in the coming 12th Malaysia Plan.
Masing who is also the Urda chairman said, the allocation among others would be used to build the 73km-long Nanga Mujong-Baleh Dam Road, Nanga Serau-Sungai Kain Road and the Tunoh Road from Nanga Mujong to Nanga Tiau.
A short take-off and landing airport (STOLport) will also be built in Bukit Mabong for RM103 million.
Urda was allocated RM1.5 billion to develop the upper Rajang area when it was set up in 2017. — Dayakdaily
