Datuk Peter Nyarok
KUCHING: The reason Barisan Nasional (BN) lost in the Krian constituency in the previous two state elections was disunity within the ruling coalition which led to sabotage from among its own rank and not because it failed to deliver its promises as claimed by the opposition.
This was stated by Krian Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) chairman Datuk Peter Nyarok in response to a report – “BN’s unfulfilled promises a factor for PKR win in Krian” by The Borneo Post team BAT6 on June 24.
“I lost in the 2011 state election because I was sabotaged. Similarly, our candidate Kilat Beriak also lost in the recent state election due to sabotaging. There are so many internal squabbles within BN in the area,” Nyarok told The Borneo Post here recently.
In the report local PKR leaders claimed that the opposition was able to retain Kiran for the second term due to multiple factors but the main reason was that BN had made promises which it failed to keep. These local opposition leaders also claimed that although the constituents have been supporting the opposition, development projects have not stopped because Krian assemblyman Ali Biju has been able to bring more projects into the area.
Nyarok was the assemblyman for Krian for four terms before losing to Ali in the 2011 state election. He refuted the opposition’s claim the development projects were the result of Ali’s efforts as he believed the development was the fulfilment of projects initiated by him.
“Many projects were on the way when I lost the election as it took time for these projects to be implemented. Insofar as I am concerned, during my tenure as the elected representative, I had brought about major projects to the areas such as treated water, electricity and road to all the 240 longhouses in the constituency.”
Citing the example of RM30 million Lichok Water Treatment Plant at Seblak Roban which was completed in 1996, he said this was one of the major projects implemented under him.
Nyarok stressed that many basic infrastructure projects came about when he was the assemblyman and some on the way even after he was defeated in 2011.
“I have been fighting hard for all the basic necessities before the 2011 state election. And some of these projects which the people are enjoying were the fruits of my labour.
“For example, the RM130 million new water treatment plant at Kaki Wong which is able to supply treated water to Krian, Kelaka and Kabong was completed recently. It was a project requested by me before I lost in the 2011 state election,” Nyarok said.
He explained that it took time for these projects to be approved and implemented. On top of that, he said it was during his tenure that 28 rubber mini estates with the total acreage of 6,000 ha were planted and these mini estates are now 80 per cent matured.
“There are also three Salcra (Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority) estates namely Roban North Oil Palm Estate, Roban South Oil Palm Estate and Saratok Oil Plam Estate plus the palm oil mill at Nanga Melupa which I initiated.
“All these are projects which I introduced and implemented when I was Salcra chairman from 1992 to 1994,” said Nyarok who was the former Agriculture Assistant Minister.
He pointed out that since Krian was captured by the opposition in 2011, the people had lost RM10 million in minor rural project fund (MRP) in the last five years.
“In the next five years, the people would lose another RM10 million in MRP and plus another 25 million in rural transformation project fund (RTP).
“People in the area has become well off because I had encouraged them to plant pepper, padi and oil palm where BN supplied them with hybrid seedlings. Krian could not be what it is today without the effort and contributions of BN before,” said Nyarok.
He added even now there are still projects like the tar sealing of roads in the constituency which were approved through Kilat’s efforts.
“Would PKR claim credit for the implementation of these projects?”
However, he warned of backlash because PKR boasted that because their candidate won the last state election more projects would be implemented in Krian.
“Now the BN government would have to think twice about approving any future projects in Krian as the opposition would claim credit for them.”
Nyarok added that the opposition is reaping the fruits of the efforts initiated by BN in the past and claiming credit for them but the projects would dry up and Ali would not be able to lobby for more projects in the future.