By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, May 23: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice president Datuk Liwan Lagang today urged partyless former State PKR chief Baru Bian to tell his constituents in Ba’kelalan of his contribution while he was federal Minister of Works.
“Talking is cheap and easy. But getting things done for the benefits of the people is difficult. So, Baru should asked himself, what his contributions are for his people in Ba’kelalan. Has the Ba’kelalan Road been improved when he was the Works Minster for almost two years before his Pakatan Harapan government fell?” asked Liwan today.
Liwan, who is also Belaga Assemblyman, also urged Baru to consider his role now that he no longer has any political party.
“From being part of the Pakatan Harapan federal government and now as a paryless representative, he should reconsider his role and think of how best he could assist the Orang Ulu to be further developed and at par with other communities.
“You may not be able to change the wind but at least you can change your sail,” said Liwan.
Two days ago, Baru who is Selangau MP and Ba’kelalan assemblyman, has urged the weaker component parties in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to reconsider their alliance with Parti Pesaka Bumipurera Bersatu (PBB), claiming that there was imbalance in the distribution of power in the coalition.
“What is important is that there is no discrimination for all GPS elected representatives in terms of allocation as all of us are given the same amount.
“In fact, even the GPS government also looks after opposition held areas such as the recent food baskets programme during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period,” he said.
Liwan also said Baru’s dream of becoming the next chief minister of Sarawak will remain just a dream.
“Let me remind him that politics is about the game of numbers. The Orang Ulu has only six seats, so how can he ever dream of being the next chief minister if he doesn’t have the number?,” asked Liwan.
Liwan reiterated that politics, like associations, could not be taken out of racial line.
“Just look at the various associations in Sarawak which represents all the communities such as the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) and the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations of Sarawak, Malaysia (Forum). So too, politics will be based on racial line,” stressed Liwan.
On a related issue, Liwan who is also Assistant Minister of Electricity Supplies, accused the opposition especially Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) for being anti rural development after its leaders criticised the implementation of the Second Trunk Road.
“You can’t just criticised for the sake of criticising. The GPS State government implement projects based on consensus.
“This is proven with our comprehensive development plan for the whole of Sarawak such as the setting up of Ulu Rajang Development Agency (URDA), Highland Development Agency (HDA) and the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) which are aimed at developing all the rural areas,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Liwan wished both the Muslim and Dayak communities a joyful and meaningful celebrations although they have to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) due to the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“At the same time, I would like to wish all my Muslim friends “Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri” and to my Dayak friends, ‘Selamat Ari Gawai Dayak, Garu Guru Gerani Nyamai’,” he said. -DayakDaily
