DAP names candidate for Katibas

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SIBU: The DAP yesterday named Paren Nyawi, an Iban from Song, as its likely candidate for Katibas in the next state

election.

Its political education director and Sibu MP, Oscar Ling, said 34-year-old Paren has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam.

“He worked in Kuala Lumpur as an auditor for 10 years before deciding to come back to take up politics full-time.

“He joined DAP in April this year,” Ling said, pointing out that Paren shared DAP’s ideologies.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference at the DAP office here yesterday, Paren said he was aware of several issues that Song people were facing.

“Song is gravely lacking in secondary schools and banking institutions.

“We’ve only one secondary school and one bank, the BSN,” he said, adding that the bank was crowded most of the time.

Ling, who was with Paren at the press conference, said DAP would contest in some 30 state seats, of which over half were those with Dayak majority.

“DAP is better accepted by the Dayaks now. And we’ve have many Dayak party leaders,” he said.

“DAP has never contested in Katibas and Pelagus, but we are going to make breakthroughs in time to come,” enthused Ling.

On the claim that DAP was against rural development, Ling rubbished it, saying DAP’s insistence that the state government be transparent over the spending of RM655.9 million allocated for rural development had been misconstrued as against rural development.

“We like to know the details. We urge that the details of the spending of this enormous amount be disclosed when DUN (State Legislative Assembly) sits on Aug 17.

“We don’t want the money to be used for political elections,” he said.