Ugak reassures constituents, party members, he remains with PRS
KAPIT: Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong has reassured his constituents and party members that he will always be a Parti Rakyat Sarawak ( PRS) man – for better or worse.
He gave the assurance following rumours about him and two other parliamentarians leaving the party to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR), which is a component of the new ruling coalition, Pakatan Harapan ( PH). The other two MPs are said to be Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang ( Kanowit) and Datuk Masir Kujat (Sri Aman).
“After the GE14 (14th general election), there were all sorts of fake news about me joining another party. I have been receiving many phone calls – just now, a reporter asked me about this.
“I say ‘aku tetap PRS’ ( I remain with PRS). I stand with PRS. I’m not selling my soul for any monetary reward – that’s not Ugak,” he told over 1,000 PRS members attending the ‘Ngiling Bidai Night’ hosted by the Hulu Rajang parliamentary constituency service centre at Sri Baleh multi-purpose hall here on Sunday.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, who is also PRS president, officiated at the ceremony.
For the record, PRS together with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party ( SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party ( PDP), are former Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak component parties.
Following the outcome of GE14 on May 9 this year, however, the four Sarawak parties left BN and formed a new coalition – Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
In his remarks, Masing congratulated Ugak for winning Hulu Rajang with a big majority.
On another subject, Masing pointed out the date July 1, 2018, as being ‘ very significant for Sarawak’ in that it marked Sarawak government’s authority over its oil and gas.
“We decide what to do with (our) oil and gas,” he said.
However, Masing said to continue having such full control, the GPS must continue to rule Sarawak.
“The GPS must continue to rule Sarawak after 2021. This depends on whether the people of Sarawak want it – if they wanted it, they would vote for GPS and we would continue to control Sarawak and its oil and gas,” he stressed, adding that the future of Sarawak is in the hands of Sarawakians.
“We determine our future. It is our duty to safeguard our rights.”
Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang, political secretary to chief minister Nicholas Kudi Jantai who was the event organising chairman, Deputy Kapit Resident Galong Luang, Kapit District Walikota Philimon Nuing, Kapit District Council secretary Jabang Juntan, Kapit District administrative officer Bidah Lujah, Bukit Mabong District Office administrative officer Jason Kong and local community leader Pemanca David Dian were also present at the dinner.