File photo showing George (third left) and Mawan (second right) with community leaders and government officers at a section of the Lichok Water Treatment Plant in Saratok during the water crisis.
Saratok Community Welfare Management committee member Penghulu George Manggi hailed Mawan, who is also Social Development Minister, as a ‘caring leader’ who was willing to make personal sacrifice for the sake of the people.
The fund, he explained, was for emergency purposes during hard times and it was Mawan’s instruction for them (committee) to not practise discrimination in granting allocations to deserving constituents.
“Mawan has set a standard in service excellence. As far as I know and if I am not wrong, no other YBs (elected representatives) have donated their whole monthly allowance to such fund. This was his (Mawan’s) pledge made during the last general election and at that time, several quarters were skeptical – some even accused him of lying.
“This is no more an issue – many now agree that Mawan is a man of his words,” said George.
The fund committee is chaired by Pemanca Edward Gila Baul, with Pemanca Tan Yoke Ngee as treasurer.
George said during the water woes in July, Saratok constituents could see and hear Mawan’s helicopter flying above Lichok regularly, where the only water treatment plant was located.
“He gave instructions to Public Works Department not to delay in ferrying water to those badly in need of it then.”
George, who is now in his second term as Penghulu, said Mawan deserved the Programme Membantu Rakyat (Membara) Award from by Special Affairs Department.
“With Mawan at the helm, all those involved are very proactive and they respond very fast to calls, requests and recommendations by the people,” he said.
During the last Umno convention at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Saratok was announced as the best parliament for Sarawak in terms of service to the people, particularly in providing assistance to them. It was also among the 14 best parliamentary constituencies chosen from each state across the country.
State Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi received the award and the cash prize of RM5,000 for Saratok, from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.