A combo of photo shots of the proposed 10km Belaga-Long Dungan Road project which is expected to be completed within this year.
KUCHING: The new seat of Selirik should be changed to Bukit Goram as it is a more prominent feature in Kapit, said Hulu Rajang MP Wilson Ugak Kumbong.
He said Selirik was not appropriate as it was just a small river not far from Kapit town.
“The name has to signify something prominent and I think Bukit Goram is more appropriate to replace Selirik,” Ugak told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
Selirik, along with 10 other newly proposed constituencies, were announced by the Election Commission (EC) last Monday including Batu Kitang, Stakan, Serembu, Triboh, Gedong, Kabong, Tellian, Murum, Samalaju and Long Lama.
However, voters affected by the delineation exercise have been given 30 days, effective from Jan 5 till Feb 4 this year, to file in any objection(s) to the EC. Moreover any objection(s) needs at least 100 voters to sign the petition.
On a similar issue, Ugak said two polling stations in Baleh constituency, namely Gat and Sut, should be retained in Baleh instead of being transferred to Pelagus.
“On the map, it looked good but physically, it’s not practical for the voters on the ground as both polling stations are located along the Baleh River – rather too far from the polling centre of Pelagus,” stressed Ugak.
He also said that Nanga Merit, which is traditionally under Pelagus, should not be transferred to Belaga as it would be against the historical agreement made between the Ibans from Kapit and the Orang Ulus from Belaga in the past, where a boundary line was drawn at Kaki Mikai, far upriver from Nanga Merit, along the Rajang River.
“If Nanga Merit were to be put under Belaga which is traditionally allocated to the Orang Ulus, then I personally think that the EC should not do that but instead, observe the historical treaty between the two communities,” he reiterated.
On the proposed new constituency of Murum, Ugak who is a first-term MP, said he welcomed it as it would give better representation to the Orang Ulu community within his parliamentary constituency.
“I agree with Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage and Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang that we should support the candidate fielded by the Barisan Nasional from any component party who would represent the new seat in the next state election,” said Ugak.
Meanwhile, Ugak welcomed the road project implemented by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry from Belaga town to Long Dungan.
He disclosed that the 10km road, which would be completed within this year, would improve connectivity for the Sekapan people of Punan Ba, downriver of Belaga town.