By Lian Cheng
JULAU, Nov 17: The sleepy town of Julau has been awakened by Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s visit today, with a traffic jam stretching about two kilometres away on the road leading to the town.
DayakDaily’s journalist was forced to leave her vehicle at a private parking place and walked the two kilometres to reach the town.
Upon reaching the town, groups of supporters wearing GPS shirts were seen surrounding the parking space in front of a church, where the ‘Leaders Meeting the People’ session is held and Abang Johari is the invited guest-of-honour.
While the white shirts had already flooded the whole town, many longhouse residents were still seen flocking in. A town resident said these Iban supporters were seen slowly turning up in town as early as 8am even though the actual arrival of Abang Johari is 10.30am.
The jam at the road leading to Julau town started at about 9am as vehicles were not allowed to enter the area and were stopped at the junction leading to town.
The carpark which has been turned into a makeshift hall was filled up by 9am, with attendees treated to performances by some local artists.
A town resident told DayakDaily that Julau voters prefer GPS. However she admitted that incumbent Datuk Larry Sng is also strong here. From nomination day, political observers had described Julau as a very “black” area for GPS and it will take surmountable efforts from the ruling coalition to wrest it back.
Will Abang Johari’s very first visit to Julau as Premier of Sarawak turn the tide against GPS candidate Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum? There seems to be a high possibility if the people are as eager to vote for GPS as they were enthusisatic to meet Abang Johari as they were today.
In the 2018 general election, Sng won against Salang in a straight fight, garnering a majority of 1,931 votes.
In the 15th General Election which will poll on Nov 19, it will be a four-cornered fight between Sng from Parti Bangsa Malaysia, Susan George from Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and independent candidate Elly Lawai Ngalai.— DayakDaily
