Riot: No good reason for Bidayuhs to abandon BN
SERIAN: The Bidayuhs have no good reason to abandon Barisan Nasional ( BN) in the coming general election.
Calling on the community to continue giving their undivided support to BN, Human Resources Minister and Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot said BN had the highest respect for the community by ensuring they are well represented in the government.
“The BN government at federal and state levels respect the Bidayuhs.
“At federal level, all three Bidayuh MPs are active members of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s government. I am a full minister while Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos and Mas Gading MP Datuk Anthony Nogeh are deputy ministers.
“At state-level, the Bidayuhs have one full minister in Tebedu assemblyman Dato Sri Michael Manyin, and two assistant ministers in the persons of Datuk Dr Jerip Susil ( Mambong) and Datuk Roland Sagah (Tarat).
“There is no guarantee that the Bidayuhs will get this type of respect from any government formed by the opposition,” Riot said when officiating at a Gawai Dayak closing ceremony in Kampung Lanchang Sabai some 12km from here recently.
He said under the BN, Serian Division was created to honour the Bidayuh community.
“Serian was officially made a division on Oct 1, 2015 just six months after then chief minister, the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, announced plans to turn it into a division.
“Then in April this year, the current Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg came to Serian do an earthbreaking ceremony for the new township and announced major projects which are set to transform Serian’s landscape.
“We the Bidayuhs will benefit from all these. We only make up 0.6 per cent of Malaysia’s 31 million people or 8 per cent of Sarawak’s three million.
“I dare say, no government of the opposition will ever give us the political and socio- economic power now afforded us by the BN government,” Riot said.
He said the people must not be easily hoodwinked by the sweet promises of the opposition.
To voters in S er ian parliamentary seat, Riot told them to look closely at what is happening around them to appreciate what the government has done and would be doing to raise their standard of living.
Later, he dished out a total of RM70,000 to the village – RM30,000 to St Mathew’s Church, JKKK of Lanchang Sabai ( RM10,000), JKKK of Lanchang Sijo (RM10,000) and organisers of the Gawai- do (Association of Serian Bidayuh Community Leaders) – RM20,000.
Apart from the grants, Riot also announced that Lanchang Sabai’s waterfront project was now in the tender process. He said works would begin right after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
He did not disclose the cost of the proposed riverbank project, though it would be in the hundred of thousands of ringgit.
The Gawai- do also saw the presentation of close to a dozen Bidayuh traditional dances performed by dancers from nine Bidayuh villages in Serian Division.
Riot’s political secretary Major (rtd) Datuk Peter Runin, Serian Resident Jonathan Lugoh, district officer Lim Hock Meng and community leaders such as Temenggong Henry Bujang Sadok and Pemanca Chai Min Lee, Pemanca Ahgim Katot and Pemanca Kane Manung were also present.