More federal funds needed — Jabu

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GAWAI TOAST: Jabu (fourth left) leading diners in a toast for the coming Gawai celebrations. Also in the photo are (from second right) Sikie, Gramong, Jimbun, Dato Sri Celestine Ujang and Dato Sri Empiang Jabu.

KUCHING: Sarawak is hoping the federal government will continue giving development funds to improve rural infrastructure since the state has delivered many seats to the Barisan Nasional (BN) to remain in power.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, who said this, pointed out the promise to increase allocations to east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak was made by the Prime Minister even during budget speeches since 2011.

Because of the need for more development, he said Sarawakian voters had continued to choose Barisan in the recently-concluded 13th General Election (GE13) because they wanted the state to catch up in terms of rural infrastructure development by the year 2020.

“This (the increased allocation) is very important, and we do not want to lose this opportunity. I can tell you that by 2020, the rural population including the Penan community will be living above the poverty line,” he said  at the Pre-Gawai dinner organised by Kuching District Iban Community Leaders on Saturday.

Jabu, who is also PBB deputy president, also took a swipe at the opposition for disputing the GE13 outcome and attempting to disrupt harmony by protesting in the streets.

KUMANG GAWAI: Kumang Gawai Kuching Genevie Lenya Sigun (seated), 18, poses for the camera after receiving her prize from Dato Sri Empiang Jabu (second left). She defeated 11 other contestants to win the title.

“We condemn people who do not respect the rule of law and democracy. We condemn people who go to the streets to demonstrate because it is not our culture.

“No country in the world can progress if there is chaos. There will be no future for our children if there is no stability in the country,” he said.

As such, he called on the Dayak community to reject such politics and urged them to fight off such elements to preserve the prevailing unity so that government transformation programmes can benefit the rural areas.

Jabu, who is also Rural Development Minister, cautioned outsiders against undermining the intelligence of rural people.

He cited the achievement of two rural Bumiputera students from Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Betong who won the gold medal at an inventions competition in Geneva, Switzerland, as a classic example of brilliant rural brains.

“This shows the quality of rural brains is as good as the quality of urban brains. I’m not implying urban brains as not good, but those in the rural can be as good as them,” he said, adding the two students would go on to another competition in Houston, Texas next month.

Meanwhile, the Pre-Gawai dinner saw the performances of guest artistes including Melissa Francis and the crowning of Kumang Gawai for Kuching.

Also present at the dinner were state assistant ministers Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Datuk Gramong Juna and Robert Lawson Chuat, Kapit member of parliament Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Kuching Iban Temenggung Datuk James Jimbun Pungga and other prominent Dayak leaders.