Henry (centre) shakes hands with Boniface before he and the BN team made their way to the nomination centre on Monday.
BAU: Tasik Biru BN candidate Dato Henry Harry Jinep appreciates the presence of former assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian and former PKR Mas Gading chief Boniface Willy Tumek for showing up in solidarity with him during nomination day at the civic centre here on Monday.
Henry said their presence was a reflection of their political maturity.
“It shows mutual respect and forward thinking for the betterment of our community and society as a whole. We must continue to live in peace and harmony in the spirit of love and kindness,” he said when met yesterday.
Photographs of Henry greeting Nansian and shaking hands with Willy are shared by many users in Facebook and Whatsapp chat groups.
Nansian was Tasik Biru assemblyman from 1996, while Willy who was once slated to contest in Tasik Biru quit from PKR after the party failed to secure a nomination for him.
Henry, a new face introduced by Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) for this election, is facing Mordi Bimol from DAP in a straight fight.
Bidayuhs make up 65.3 per cent of the 17,041 voters in Tasik Biru followed by the Chinese (26.2 per cent) and Malays (5.9 per cent).
Henry meanwhile continues to hold ‘Program Desa ke Desa’ (Village to Village programme) which he has started since February to reach out to voters in Tasik Biru.
It has been an effective strategy for him through gatherings mostly at night to meet the young and old at the villages and to encourage them to continue supporting BN.
On Tuesday night, the programme was held at Duyuh and Bogag, and at Skibang, Sibobog and Stass the previous night.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) veteran and Samarahan Walikota Dato Peter Minos joined him at the event in Bogag. Minos, in his speech that night, said Chief Minister and State BN chief Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem made the right move in choosing Henry as the Tasik Biru’s BN candidate.
“He is the first Bidayuh to receive a first class degree from a United Kingdom’s university. I remember when I was with the Dayak Cultural Foundation, we rewarded him for his achievement.
“The chief minister was right to pick him as Tasik Biru BN candidate. He is a first-class candidate, and if you vote for him you are also first-class voters,” said Minos.
Attributing Bogag as also his home since his late mother hailed from the village, he expressed hope that at least 90 per cent of voters in Bogag would vote for BN so that Henry could achieve a handsome majority win.
PBB Tasik Biru chief John Nyigor, who also spoke, said there was no more confusion on who the BN candidate was since the contest involved a straight fight between BN and DAP.
“There is no reason for voters to be confused anymore. You know who the BN candidate is now,” he said.
Meanwhile, Henry in his speech called on the voters to ensure a BN victory for continuity of progress and development.
He said Tasik Biru was still a largely rural area and it still needed more basic infrastructure and basic amenities although the villages were already enjoying electricity and water supplies and good roads.
“I am ready to serve the people. Give me a big majority so that I can talk with a louder voice and be able to get more development for Tasik Biru,” he said.