By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Dec 5: Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob hopes that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will win in upcoming 12th Sarawak State Election (PRN12) and remain in power.
He expressed his wish that the current close relationship and tight collaboration between the federal and State governments will continue, to pave the way for more development in Sarawak.
Expressing his view that federal and State governments cannot be from different coalitions or of opposing political stands, he reminded Sarawakians about the many projects including Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway that were cancelled when Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over as the federal government in 2018.
“Two weeks later (from today), I hope, GPS will maintain as the government in Sarawak for more development projects to be implemented.
“I am not campaigning as campaigning is not allowed now. I am merely reminding that when PH was government in 2018, approved projects and not those in planning, were cancelled.
“So, there must be a close relationship between the State and federal governments for development to continue. Like now, my relationship with Abang Jo is close,” he said during the launching of the Serian Roundabout-Balai Ringin section of the Pan Borneo Highway section in Serian today.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg who was at the same event, concurred with Ismail Sabri regarding the importance of partnership between federal and State governments.
Concerning PRN12, Ismail Sabri said he would very much want to campaign with GPS candidates in Sarawak tomorrow (Dec 6) like he did in Serian in the last State polls, if time had allowed.
He said he remembered being with Tebedu incumbent Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong and other then Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates during his last visit to Serian.
“If I had time to be here, for sure, I want to be with the GPS candidates here,” he said.
The 33.05-kilometre Serian Roundabout-Balai Ringin road stretch is part of Works Package 03 of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Serian Section from Serian Roundabout to Pantu Junction which has total length of 75.015 kilometres.
The Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway which was first launched in March 2015 stretches from Telok Melano at Sarawak’s most western tip to Miri in northern Sarawak.
The mega project, implemented via 11 Works Packages comprising 25 sections, involves development and upgrading of the current two-lane single carriageway of JKR R3 geometric design standard to a four-lane dual carriageway of JKR R5 geometric design standard.
To-date, the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway has been fully opened from Telok Melano to Sematan (33km) and Nyabau to Bakun (43km) which is part of the 786-kilometre Phase 1 road project. — Dayakdaily
