(From third left) Alexander, Nanta, Dr Rundi, Allan, Gramong, Catherine and others in a group photo after the function.
KANOWIT: Allan Siden Gramong, 30, was announced as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Machan to replace the incumbent Datuk Gramong Juna in the 11th state election.
BN Sarawak secretary general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi made the announcement during a ‘Special Gathering with BN Sarawak/Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Secretary General’ at Kanowit District Council hall here yesterday.
Dr Rundi said he was instructed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to make the announcement – to end speculations on who Gramong would pick to be his successor.
Allan is Gramong’s youngest son who is also a member of Malaysian Youth Parliament and a PBB Youth Central Exco member.
“We believe and are also confident that Allan will win the seat for BN with the help of PBB members and Gramong himself. We hope other BN component parties in Kanowit will give their full support to Allan.
“It is the wish of the chief minister to have young people as candidates in the election not only for PBB but also other component parties,” he told reporters when met after the function.
Dr Rundi said PBB was very confident that their supporters were very comfortable with the current political scenario and the leadership of the chief minister.
In the 2011 state election, Gramong, 69, won the Machan seat with a 1,629 vote-majority defeating George Chen Nguk Fa (Parti Keadilan Rakyat), Kong Tat Kim (Parti Cinta Malaysia) and Augustine Liom (Sarawak National Party).
The nine-term Machan assemblyman, who is also Assistant Minister of Tourism and Assistant Minister of Land Development, has previously voiced his wish not to defend his seat after serving almost 38 years.
The chief minister gave him the mandate to pick his own successor.
Meanwhile, Allan said he was ready to fill the shoes left by his father and continue his legacy.
“I am happy with the announcement and accept this challenge.
“I have plans for Machan. I have been going to the ground a lot in the past few months,” he said.
He said his focus was on youth development but not forgetting the elderly.
At the same function, Gramong presented reappointment certificates to 72 longhouse chiefs and government grants totalling RM1.5million to 205 recipients.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi who is also PBB vice-president, PBB Machan Women chief Datuk Catherine Gramong and Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent were also present at the function.