By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 25: Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep has questioned what Democratic Action Party (DAP) can offer Bau voters, pointing to an unfinished access road for the Selampit bridge as an example of the development challenges still facing the rural constituency.
Responding to reports that DAP may contest eight State seats in Sarawak, including Bau, Henry questioned what its representatives had delivered to the constituency.
“Dia menang untuk apa sebenarnya DAP ni? (What is DAP actually contesting for?)
“Kawasan saya ada Timbalan Menteri, buat apa? (There is already a Deputy Minister in my area, so what has he been doing?)
“Janji jambatan pun tak siap (Even the promised bridge has not been completed),” he told reporters after a press conference at the Tasik Biru Constituency Service Centre in Bau today.
Henry was referring to DAP’s Mordi Bimol, who is the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports and Mas Gading MP.
Henry said RM17 million had been approved for the Selampit bridge under the previous Barisan Nasional administration, but the allocation only covered the bridge itself and not the access road.
“How can you build a bridge without a road? The bridge is completed, but you just look at the bridge, there is no road. So, you need RM60 million to RM70 million to build the access road,” he said.
On Aug 21, DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen reportedly announced during the party’s 60th anniversary fundraising dinner in Kuching that it was aiming to secure between eight and 10 seats in the coming Sarawak election.
Responding to this, Henry, who is also Deputy Minister for Transport Sarawak (Maritime and Riverine) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) deputy president, said Bau residents wanted better roads, education and healthcare rather than small allocations.
“If you just give RM20,000, RM30,000 or RM100,000 here and there, what do the people get from that? They need better roads, a better education system and better hospitals,” he said.
He said Bau Hospital, which had been operating for more than 30 years, needed a new building and better equipment, saying it sometimes lacked basic facilities.
“Sometimes there is not even enough air-conditioning, there are not enough chairs. Even a nebuliser is not available. I had to buy one to help them using my Minor Rural Project (MRP) allocation,” he said.
Henry also highlighted insufficient parking at the hospital, saying people could wait two to three hours, while rural schools also required attention.
“The people are not asking for RM100,000 or RM200,000. How is that enough? They want millions for development,” he said.
Looking ahead, Henry said his focus for Bau over the next five years would increasingly shift towards socio-economic development as basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water supply had improved in rural areas.
“What people want now is income to bring home for their families and put food on the table. That is what people need now,” he said.
He said education would remain his top priority, followed by socio-economic activities aimed at creating sustainable income and increasing household purchasing power.
“If people have income and purchasing power, then they can live stably and harmoniously as a family. That is important,” he said.
Asked whether DAP could contest against him in Tasik Biru, Henry said he was ready for the challenge.
“If DAP wants to fight, then we fight,” he said.
However, he said whether he would defend the seat for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) remained a decision for Sarawak Premier and GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“I don’t know yet. It is up to the Premier,” he said. — DayakDaily
