Baram folk will continue to beg under BN — PKR candidate hopeful

MIRI: The people of Baram will become beggers and continue to depend on assistance and handouts if the Barisan Nasional ( BN) continues to govern the country.

A potential PKR candidate to wrest Baram seat from BN in the upcoming general election, Roland Engan, said the people of Baram had high hopes for a change by the BN government, but one that never came.

“Baram is the biggest seat in Malaysia. As Pakatan Harapan leaders, we are looking at a holistic approach to bring about socioeconomic changes in Baram and its people. If it (Baram) continues to be under BN the people will continue to beg and depend on handouts and assistance from the government.

“This must not be allowed to continue. We want change to happen in Baram when Pakatan Harapan takes over Putrajaya. We are confident to make changes in Baram within 10 years,” said Roland, who is also PKR Baram chief.

Saying Baram is still left far behind in many aspects, especially in basic infrastructure and the destruction brought about by logging activities, Roland said: “What have and always been done by BN leaders and its elected representatives when they visited villages and longhouses in the interior are only giving out minor rural project funds.

“This is not the solution to the needs and aspiration of the people in Baram.”

Roland said Baram was once an administrative centre for the fourth division during the Brooke era.

“What has become of Baram now? I have full confidence that we would be able to change Baram within 10 years through clean governance which involves everybody in Baram.

“We want Baram to be repaired and restored. We, at PH, have suggested five areas to be looked into as a new model of the people in Baram. Among them is that we want strong leadership at the grassroots level whereby community leaders must be selected by the majority and not handpicked by the government.” he said.