KUCHING, July 19: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government will be monitoring development projects on the ground at least every three weeks starting tomorrow to ensure proper implementation.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said all GPS elected reps must comply with this not only to ensure implementation of projects, especially in the rural areas, was done properly but also to make their presence among their constituents known.
Speaking during the Majlis Ramah Mesra gathering organised by GPS political secretaries at a hotel here this afternoon, he said political secretaries must also play their part in helping elected reps in their respective constituencies by establishing continuous good communication between them and always report updates on ongoing development projects to the elected reps.
“We have technically about 104 more weeks till the next state election. If we want to win we must always go down to the ground and work. We have to monitor our projects every three weeks starting tomorrow and we have to go down there and be on the ground.
“Political secretaries must communicate with the elected reps. We will promote GPS on the ground. I myself will also go down to the ground.
“I have a general picture of what is happening among the people. When the state election comes, because we (GPS) are fighting for the state’s rights, I believe we would be able to defend our position,” said Abang Johari.
He also advised the political secretaries to explain to constituents about Sarawak’s rights which need to be protected, and how GPS is going to protect these rights.
One such right is the state’s autonomy which could be seen through its immigration enforcement; Sarawak has its own Dewan Undangan Negri (State Legislative Assembly) and cabinet or ministers, unlike other states in Malaysia besides Sabah, he explained.
“Those are the simple things you can tell the ‘rakyat’ what GPS intends to fight for and defend,” Abang Johari added.
Meanwhile Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs Abdullah Saidol advised GPS political secretaries to be honest when reporting from the ground to their elected reps even if the truth hurts.
He said this was not to belittle the elected reps but to give them a clear and real picture of what is happening on the ground, so they can improve on it for the sake of the ‘rakyat’.
Abdullah, who is also the former Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, also advised elected reps to frequently go down to the ground and meet their constituents in a casual, not feudal, manner.
“Apart from being on the ground and meeting your constituents often, you should also be casual with the people. Meet them at coffeeshops for example, as that is the politics of the day.
“We are in an era where everything we do can be posted on social media. Therefore you must also be able to manage your perception among the people well.
“Because by the end of the day, part of the loss of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last general election was because of failure to manage perception,” he said.
In relation to that, he encourage elected reps to be active on social media in publicising everything they do on the ground to improve the people’s perceptions.
“It is about time we break it (GPS government’s efforts) on social media. We must be ready to face the people and criticism on social media,” said Abdullah. — DayakDaily
