MEETING GRASSROOTS SUPPORTERS: Taib (centre) shaking hands with the locals upon his arrival. Abdul Karim is at second left (partly obscured). – Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud wants a local to be the Barisan Nasional’s candidate to defend Kota Samarahan come the 13th general election (13GE).
The state BN chief said a name had been submitted to the prime minister but he would wait for the final decision before releasing details on the candidacy.
“I want to see ‘anak Samarahan’ (a person of Kota Samarahan) be the next MP of Kota Samarahan. We need a candidate who truly works for the people, and knows very well about Kota Samarahan,” he told a leaders-with-the-people session at the Indoor Stadium here yesterday.
Although no name was mentioned in his speech, it has been widely tipped that Asajaya district officer Rubiah Wang would be the candidate.
Taib, who began his political career as the Kota Samarahan MP, believed that a Kota Samarahan-born leader would take the division’s development to a new height.
He recalled that there was no Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holder here some four decades ago.
“But today, Kota Samarahan has produced more than 200 graduates. More people are earning a decent income while some of them have become government officers, professionals and entrepreneurs.”
He noted that the opposition had been trying to make inroads in rural constituencies in the state.
“They make empty promises, but I know our people do not buy their propaganda and manifesto.”
He was confident that baseless claims and empty promises made by the opposition would not undermine the faith of Sarawakians on the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
Taib called on people to fully support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak by giving BN a substantial winning margin during the coming election.
“If we give Datuk Seri Najib a strong majority, Sarawak will continue to grow and progress in Malaysia.”
Earlier, Assistant Minister for Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah announced that the federal government had allocated RM1.2 billion for the development of Kota Samarahan this year alone.
“The grant comes under the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) where projects on roads, clean water, electricity and schools will be implemented for the people.”
Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, revealed that Kota Samarahan had registered 4,000 new voters since the last general election.
“Let us all make sure that Kota Samarahan will not only remain the stronghold of Barisan Nasional but also record the biggest majority.”