Manyin (third right,front ) and others watch a performer doing the ‘Belangi’ before a ceremony to bless the new road at Sejijag Kebuhu.
TEBEDU: Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) will remain strong and stable if all communities support Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem as the state’s fifth chief minister, said Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.
He said this is important to ensure the state BN gets another mandate to form the government in the 11th state election to be called by 2016.
“What is important is that we must support him (Adenan), as much as we have supported (the present chief minister) Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud all this while, to make sure that Barisan will win the next state election (expected to be called in) 2016). That is very, very important,” he said when met by the media after a function at Kampung Sejijak Mawang near here on Saturday night.
On a personal note, Manyin said he looks forward to working under Adenan who was his senior during their days together in St Joseph’s School in Kuching many years ago.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president said he will definitely support Adenan like what he has done for Taib, who is PBB president and chief minister since 1981, to ensure stability and smooth running of the government.
“To me, it is something I treasure because he (Adenan) was my schoolmate in St Joseph’s School, senior to me by two years. I am very, very happy that I have been working with Pehin Sri (Taib) for the past 18 years as a YB (elected representative) and minister.
“Now I will continue to work with my schoolmate Adenan for the next two and half years maybe (until the next state election), I do not know what happens after that,” he said.
In his speech during the function earlier, Manyin speaking in his c apacity as Bidayuh community’s senior political leader urged the community to give their full support to Adenan as Sarawak’s new chief minister.
He reminded them of the significance of March 1, when Adenan officially takes over as the chief minister from Taib, and he told them the new leadership must be supported to ensure continuity of development.
Taking a quote from a popular Bidayuh song ‘Kampung Love’, namely ‘I kiss you bayuh sade’, he said the development in rural areas particularly those inhabited by the Bidayuhs are still ‘bayuh sade’ (not enough).
“It makes no difference to us because the new chief minister is still from Barisan. So, I urge the whole of Bidayuh community right from Lundu, Padawan, Penrissen and Serian to continue our support. In fact, not only to continue, but to enhance it.
“As a new person at the helm, he (Adenan) needs greater support to make sure that there is a continuity of development not only in our area but whole of Sarawak,” he said, adding the Bidayuhs will not benefit if they choose to be outside the government.
Meanwhile, the function saw Manyin who is also Tebedu assemblyman officially launching the newly upgraded access road linking the villages of Sejijag Kebuhu, Sejijag Plaman and Sejijag Mawang to the main Serian-Tebedu road.
The tar sealing and expansion of the 3km road was estimated at RM1 million. Manyin also launched a bailey bridge, also estimated at RM1 million, which links these three villages to their primary school SK Sejijag.
Political secretary to the chief minister John David Nyauh, Serian district officer Sinde Muling and Serian District Council deputy chairman Dr Simon Sindang Bada were among those present.