Community leaders defend Richard Wil

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(From left) Lawang, Henry Jawan, Bantan, Nelson and Drahman pose for a photo after voicing their disagreement with critics of Wil and Entri.

(From left) Lawang, Henry Jawan, Bantan, Nelson and Drahman pose for a photo after voicing their disagreement with critics of Wil and Entri.

MIRI: Community leaders in Bakong slammed critics of political secretary to the chief minister Richard Wil Uban, saying the latter knew Marudi constituency like the back of his palm and almost 90 per cent of the people there knew him.

They said he has first-hand knowledge of the development and progress brought about by Marudi assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran.

“He is a local from Rumah Suring in Sungai Bain, and knows most if not all the community leaders from Pengelayan to Ulu Teru, and was absolutely correct in saying that those who had benefitted from Entri’s distribution of projects had never asked from the assemblyman,” they said in a statement.

The group comprises TR Engkas Enteri, Cr Joshua Dungkong, TR Bantan Nuang, TR Henry Jawan Kunbol, TR Lawang Chupong, Cr Nelson Nulai and TR Drahman Sidu of Sungai Mallang, Sungai Kelabit, Sungai Seruas and Sungai Lutong in Bakong.

“We are grassroots leaders and we know better than the armchair politicians who claim to know Marudi better than Richard Wil,” they stressed.

They pointed out that Wil spoke from his experience of personally witnessing Entri’s frequent visits to the constituency and presentation of development projects to the people, saying: “He did not speak from Miri or Kuching but as a grassroots leader, unlike the armchair politicians.”

They said Wil has a big extended family and is related to many of the longhouse chiefs in the constituency.

Thus, they said Entri was unfairly accused of being biased as those left out were themselves victims of circumstances because they failed to get on board the mainstream of development.

They were referring to accusations hurled against Richard Wil that he went against the ‘Merger of Minds’ spirit and did not support Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, SPDP’s nominated candidate for Marudi.

The merger of minds was mooted by SUPP, SPDP and PRS to support each other.

The group claimed that the critics were ignorant of the reality in Marudi, and said Marudi constituents were not foolish to allow Entri, a productive leader, to be replaced.

“Accusing him of not being fair is totally a blatant lie as Entri has an excellent track record and most of the people in Marudi know what he has brought to the people.”

The group said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had made the right choice for Entri to defend the Marudi seat for BN, warning that the seat could fall to the opposition if the proposed SPDP candidate was nominated to replace Entri.

“We must ensure that this (BN loss) would not happen and we must be all out to defend and retain the seat through Entri as the BN candidate.”