MIRI: Sarawakian voters should exercise their voting rights on April 16 to enhance political stability in the country.
Water Supply Assistant Minister Sylvester Entri Muran said: “Give the government and the BN (Barisan Nasional) your votes and reject opposition parties like SNAP that only promise this and that, including RM2 billion for the Dayak Endowment Fund.”
NEW UNIT: Sylvester speaking at the launch of Rela platoon at Rumah Entulang, Bakong.
“Even Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng promised to give RM1 billion for the fund. Why only Dayak? If implemented it may cause hatred among the races, including Indians in Penang,” Sylvester said when officiating at the launch of a Rela platoon for Sungai Entulang, Bakong and handover of uniforms to its 38 members yesterday.
Among those present were Marudi Rela deputy head, Major (Rela) Mohd Zulhilmi Asnan; head of Sungai Entulang Rela Platoon, Second Lieutenant Johnny Bujang; and head of Marudi Information Department, Joseph Jones.
Sylvester claimed that opposition promises like giving back native customary rights (NCR) land to natives were to hookwink voters.
He said the government and BN component parties, although having the resources, dared not promise the impossible but only implement projects based on the availability of funds.
“The people should adopt ‘Politics Ampa’ or ‘Paddy Husk’ kind of politics – that is reject pseudo champion politicians but support BN parties, which have more than four decades of administering the state efficiently,” he urged.
Sylvester said it could not be denied that some areas, including in his constituency of Marudi, had yet to enjoy the fruit of independence like roads, water supply and electricity.
For example, villagers in and around Sungai Peking, Benawa, Sungai Bain, Long Maro and Sungai Tasan were still not linked by roads though efforts were being made to build one.
“The BN government will not forget you people, we already have RM17 million, first to connect Sungai Peking to Benawa and later from Benawa to the nearby areas and then to Marudi,” he said.
Sylvester urged villagers of Rumah Entulang to be patient as contractors were tarsealing the access road to the village and the nearby school.
At the function, he announced minor rural projects (MRP) grants of RM20,000 for Rumah Justin, RM10,000 for the parent-teacher association of SK Entulang, and RM5,000 for Rela platoon at Rumah Entulang.
A Supreme Council member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Richard Will reminded voters that they had every reason to support the BN government.
“Don’t be misled by the opposition slogan that voting for Sylvester Entri or any BN candidate is voting for Taib (Chief Minister),” he said, adding that voting for a BN candidate is like voting for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said since becoming prime minister, Najib had emphasised the development of Sarawak and Sabah, particularly the rural areas. Two community leaders, Penghulu Gerang and Rumah Entulang village headman Justine Mana, pledged to support Sylvester in defending his seat in the coming election.