MIRI: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), one of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, is planning to set up seven branches in Johor.
SPDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said presently the seven branches are now known only SPDP Clubs but an application to upgrade them to party branches will be submitted to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) for approval soon.
“The seven proposed branches which will be opened in stages are Permas Jaya, Johor Jaya, Tiram, Skudai, Nusa Jaya, Machap and Layang-Layang,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The statement was issued in conjunction with the ninth Pre-Gawai Dinner 2016 for the Pasir Gudang parliamentary constituency at Borneo Market here which was attended by more than 2,000 Dayak working and residing in Johor last night and Tiong himself.
The event was officiated by Johor Baharu councillor Abdul Latiff Ismail, representing Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
In view of the proposed seven branches, Tiong has suggested the formation of protem committees at their respectives places as part of the preparation to set up the party branches before the application can be fowarded to ROS.
Abdul Latif who also spoke at the function said the Johor goverment acknowledged the contribution of Sarawak communities towards the development of Johor especially the role of Johor Borneo Association (JBA) in promoting unity as well as improving the socio economc status of it members.
“JBA has assisted small traders particularly getting business licence to the extent about 65 small traders from Chinese, Malay,Iban and Indian communities managed to get a place for trading at Johor Borneo Market (Pasar Borneo Johor),”he said, adding that the market now was a tourism attraction for Johor.
Present at the dinner were Simpang Renggam MP Datuk Liang Teck Meng,JBA chairman Donny Linan,Johor SPDP club president Dinggan Birai and Sarawak Chief Minister’s political secretary Datuk Paul Igai. — Bernama