WE SUPPORT BN: (From second left) Lani, James and Suyong are seen at the press conference.
MIRI: Rumah Suyong, Rumah James Biri and Rumah Lani folk have declared their strong support for the Barisan Nasional (BN).
Headmen Suyong Belon, James Biri Steven and Lani Bujang stressed that their longhouses supported BN for continued development in the Sibuti parliamentary constituency.
They said this in response to Piasau assemblyman Alan Ling’s claims that 19 residents from the three longhouses had joined the Democratic Action Party (DAP).
“In a nation that practises democracy, it is their own right to choose their own political party and views, where a number of individuals might back the opposition. However, the majority of our longhouse folk are still in strong support for the BN,” James said during a press conference yesterday.
Suyong pointed out that Richard Chana Bansa, who submitted application forms to the DAP’s office on Friday, did not reside in his longhouse.
“I deny that Richard is one of our longhouse folk as he is not residing in the longhouse. Richard resides in a hut in a nearby farm close to the longhouse area,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, Lani said most of the villagers from the three longhouses are BN supporters, with the majority being Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) members.
“Some individuals might have different political views, in support of the opposition party, however it has never been endorsed by the entire longhouse,” he said.
The longhouse folk, he said, are still in need of development from the government in terms of infrastructure, socially and economically.
“With the clarification from all of the longhouse chiefs, it is hoped that other village folk would not to be influenced by the opposition’s tactics. They are currently wooing Dayak voters through various methods for the upcoming general election.
“It is only under the leadership of the BN that our area can be further developed through projects and funding, but not through opposition parties,” he added.
All three headmen stressed they supported Sibuti Member of Parliament Ahmad Lai Bujang and hoped he would be re-nominated as the BN candidate during the next parliamentary election.