Minister says majority of Sarawakians will reject opposition for continued progress
SIBU: The opposition will win some seats in the next state election, it was conceded yesterday.
FOR YOU: Shilling (third right) presents a souvenir to Wong as Romeo (third left), Yong (right) and others look on.
But before parties like Democratic Action Party (DAP), Pakatan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) celebrate, read on.
Second Finance Minister and Minister of Environment and Public Health Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said the opposition parties do not have the strength needed to win Sarawak.
Speaking at a gathering ‘Makai Serumpu Taun 2010’ organised by Komuniti Bestari of Tanjong Penasu/Batu Burak on Saturday, Wong said the opposition will be rejected by the majority of Sarawakians who can see through the opposition’s fragile and artificial unity facade that they call Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
Their opposing ideologies are restrained but waiting to blow up, he said.
“Parties like DAP and PAS are waiting to go for each other’s throats but being held back for now for the sake of elections. But for how long can they go on pretending and forcing it upon themselves to accept one another.
“It’s different in the BN. We are a visionary government that plans for the people, for their prosperity and for sustainable development,” Wong said.
“As in past elections, the oppositions will win a few seats in the next state election but definitely they will not win Sarawak because most Sarawakians know that they are incapable of bringing prosperity to the people.
“In fact, they win a bit more seats they will be quarrelling among themselves because they will see a couple more added seats as a chance to create prosperity for themselves,” he said.
Wong said he was confident that rural voters would not fall for opposition gimmicks and would still trust the BN with bringing more development projects to them.
Citing Tanjong Penasu and Batu Burak, which has 12 longhouses, he said most areas had already enjoyed good infrastructure development while only a few roads and drainage systems needed to be upgraded.
He said the government would follow up on all this to make sure that people and goods could move freely for greater economic activities.
Saturday’s gathering was held at the parent-teacher association’s multipurpose hall of SK Tanjong Penasu in Tanjong Penasu here.
Present at the function were Komuniti Bestari Tanjong Penasu/Batu Burak chairman Andrew Shilling Bangit, SK Tanjong Penasu headmaster Ivy Yong and organising chairman Romeo Christopher.
On another subject, Wong, who is Bawang Assan assemblyman, urged Iban parents to give their children ample opportunity to further their studies, saying future economic competitiveness depends a lot on people’s level of education.
He said if they are not sure about scholarships and other education aid, they should approach teachers and counsellors who should be able to help them.
“You can even approach your local YBs,” said Wong, who later declared open the PTA’s multipurpose hall which was completed recently.