Kenyah community wants Liwan made full minister, Chukpai assistant minister

Pemanca Tony Kulleh

KUCHING, Dec 22: Pemanca Tony Kulleh hopes Belaga assemblyman Datuk Liwan Lagang will be made a full minister and Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon be appointed an assistant minister in the new Sarawak Cabinet under Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The Kenyah community leader emphasised that this will boost the representation of ethnic minority groups in Sarawak, especially the Kenyah being the largest ethnic Orang Ulu group, which is in line with the government’s inclusivity and diversity policy.

“The huge mandate given to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government in the recently concluded 12th Sarawak Election has signaled the high expectations of the people.

“It indicates that the people in Belaga and Murum have given their trust and mandate to the GPS-led government under Abang Johari’s capable leadership to propel Sarawak to a glorious future,” he said in a statement today.

Tony, who is also the Balui Lake Native Association chairman, also hopes Abang Johari will keep and fulfill the promises made to the Kenyah community in Apau Koyan, Murum and Belaga during his visit there prior to the election.

On behalf of the communities in Murum and Belaga, he also extended their heartiest congratulations to both Liwan and Chukpai for their victory in the election.

Meanwhile, Liwan of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) continues to serve N65 Belaga for the fourth term after retaining the seat with 3,552 majority votes in the 12th Sarawak Election.

He beat his closest rival Henry Usat Bit from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) who polled 1,307 votes, while John Bampa of Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) only obtained 97 votes and an independent candidate Siki Balarik 81 votes.

In N66 Murum, Chukpai won with a majority of 2,919 votes in a four-cornered fight.

Stanley Ajang Batok of PSB garnered 1,665 votes, while Ani Amat of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) only managed 513 votes and Kenneth Adan Silek of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) had 159 votes. — DayakDaily