By Roslan Mutu
KUCHING, Oct 4: As preparations for the impending 15th General Election (GE15) gather momentum, so too are potential candidates vying for seats in their respective areas.
Among them is 51-year-old Martin John Madden, who is currently an International Student officer-cum-lecturer at i-CATS University College here and is lobbying to stand for election in Lubok Antu.
Madden, who is an electronic and electrical engineer by profession, was a former Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth leader but now an ordinary member. He hails from Rh Endawie Ng Jela, Lubok Antu, and revealed he is lobbying for the Lubok Antu parliamentary seat as he believed it is only through Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) that the wakil rakyat (elected representative) can be effective in serving the people.
“I have been moving to the ground every weekend to meet as many people in Lubok Antu as possible. In my opinion, in order to progress, more emphasis has to be put on education so that our people can have a better chance to be employed,” Martin told DayakDaily here today.
Besides education, he also emphasised that there must be a drastic economic transformation plan implemented especially through the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 for the constituency, which encompasses the Batang Ai and Engkilili State constituencies.
“It is my humble opinion that there must be a concerted effort by all the local elected representatives, government servants, especially the district officers and the community leaders in Lubok Antu to be involved in the planning and implementation of major economic development in Lubok Antu which has over 200 longhouses,” said Martin.
He believes that agriculture will still remain crucial in developing the area, especially the cultivation of cash crops such as vegetables and fruits as they can generate extra income for the people in a short span of time.
Besides Martin, senior bank officer Jamba Jamal and lawyer Roy Ginkoi have expressed their interest to represent PRS for the Lubok Antu seat which could see a multi-corner fight which includes incumbent Jugah Muyang and a Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) candidate. — DayakDaily
