By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Oct 31: Three Bidayuh assemblymen believes that the community still puts its trust in the local-based parties in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) as the pact has proven to be able to deliver for the people, especially with an annual grant of RM5 million for GPS assemblymen.
According to Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, the allocation from the GPS government has been very useful to implement people-centric projects such as building community halls, and repairing schools and churches.
“With the allocation of RM5 million from the state government, I have been able to implement so many projects that are needed by the people in 44 villages in my ‘kawasan’ (constituency).
“And from the feedback that we have gathered from the people on the ground, they are very receptive to our programmes. And as of now, we have been able to connect all the villages with water, electricity and roads. Additionally, 80 per cent of my ‘kawasan’ already has Internet coverage.
“And last week the Ministry of Utilities approved another six telecommunication towers for my area to make it 20 altogether. This will give 100 per cent Internet coverage for my area in the near future,” Miro told DayakDaily here today.
Miro, who is also deputy Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief said he has come up with a masterplan to develop Siniawan Town to make it more vibrant due to an increasing population.
“We have to move in sync with the government’s effort to develop our economy in this digital era. So, I hope our people will be ready to take up the opportunity that will benefit them,” he said.
Opar assemblyman Dato Ranum Mina said the voters in his area are still supporting him to defend his seat in the coming state election due by 2021.
“So I’m ready to defend my seat for GPS,” said Ranum, who is a senior vice-president of GPS-friendly United People’s Party (UPP).
He also revealed that most of the 54 villages in Opar have been linked by road, electricity and water supplies including through gravity feed systems.
“We hoped that the government will build the Lundu-Kendaie Road that will connect Selampit as well. This way, some 5,000 people living near the border will benefit from the road connectivity,” he explained.
Both Miro and Ranum were responding to a survey by Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi that indicated 60 per cent of the Bidayuh community had swung over to Pakatan Harapan (PH).
According to the findings, among the reasons for the swing was the dissatisfaction of voters in Puncak Borneo and Mas Gading over the choice of candidates in the last 14th general election. Barisan Nasional (BN) lost both constituencies to PH.
According to the survey, the Bidayuh community who live on the periphery of major urban centres in Kuching and Serian Division is the only Bumiputera community in the state that swung over to PH while 70 per cent of the Ibans and 80-85 per cent of the Malays and Melanaus are with GPS.
The Bidayuh have eight state constituencies cosisting of five PBB seats, two UPP seats and one Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) seat. In the last state election held in 2016, all of them were won by BN.
Meanwhile, Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus said residents in his constituency are solidly behind PBB with its strong presence in most of the 44 villages in the constituency. — DayakDaily
