Salleh confident Sarawak BN will win 11th state polls without problem

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KUCHING: The Sarawak Barisan Nasional government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem will win the coming 11th state election without much problem.

Communications and MultiMedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said he was very confident of this as there was really no big issue facing BN now.

He was speaking at a gathering organised by the Koumuniti 1Malaysia and community leaders and villagers from Kampung Lajim 5 and 6 near here yesterday.

“Sarawak has a very popular chief minister in Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan. He has introduced many policies benefiting the state and its people.

“The people like these policies. Adenan too has many capable leaders to assist him as well,” he said.

Sarawak is expected to hold its election early next year.

The current state legislative assembly will expire in June next year.

Salleh, accompanied by the Minister of Housing Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, had chosen “the route less travelled” when he took a 10-minute ride in the Sarawak River tourism iconic “perahu tambang” (traditional wooden motorised passenger boat) to the village from the Kuching Waterfront.

Abang Johari is the state assemblyman for Satok which includes the two villages and is also the minister responsible for ICT and Information in the state.

Meanwhile on internet connectivity programme for the state as well as Sabah, Salleh said he had directed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to do whatever needed to be done to improve on the current speed and penetration rate.

“The Internet connectivity is a necessity and we must have greater coverage. We cannot be left out. If we are left out, we will be at a great disadvantage.

“Now it is not just for social networking like the Whatsapp or Facebook applications but more so in the e-commerce and even the e-government.

“Farmers, for instance, can stand to earn more by advertising their products online,” he said.

Salleh said his ministry’s approach would be to let the respective state governments identify their needs which they should convey to him.

“Then we will assist them in the implementation to give them greater autonomy in their administration,” he said.

Salleh is on a two-day visit to the state.

He started his programme with a closed door briefing on the political scenario in the state before meeting officers from the Information Department from throughout the state. — Bernama