FULL SUPPORT: Salang (second left) performs a ‘miring’ on his arrival at Rumah Sat Nuing in Nanga Selepong, Ulu Mujok, Julau recently. At left is Jerry.
SIBU: Julau voters are all for their MP Datuk Joseph Salang to be made a full minister.
SPDP Meluan branch chairman Jerry Clement said not only his branch but the local PBB and SUPP branches plus all non-governmental organisations were ready to endorse such an appointment.
In the election, Salang won the Iban majority seat with a 5,955-vote majority when he polled 9,891 votes from the total 16, 973 votes cast in a three-cornered fight.
His opponents Wong Judat of SWP garnered 3,936 votes and Andy Wong Hong Yu of PKR, 2,852 votes.
“We’ve confidence in Salang who had served in the federal cabinet first as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, then Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communication and later the Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister.
“He has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Iran Centre for Management Studies, Tehran, and a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Art in Economics from the Westland Maryland College, Maryland, USA.
“It is high time he moves up the ladder as a show of gratitude and appreciation for his contributions and services to the nation,” Jerry said when met here yesterday.
“This will be a great morale booster to all faithful and strong BN supporters in the state and particularly those from its rural areas,” he said.
Jerry said another reason was to show the opposition that Salang, who is a vice president of the state BN component party PRS, had always enjoyed the strongest support from BN counterparts.
He noted that Salang had always been a very popular leader since his debut in Julau in 1999 election.
He said there were ample opportunities for him as a number of the former ministers had either lost or were not re-nominated to contest this election.
“We fully endorse his promotion. He is among the BN leaders who are always on the ground.
“He is very humble and approachable. He has forged excellent networking with other BN leaders.
“He has his corporate background, too, and we believe he can bring greater development and progress, especially to Julau,” Jerry said.