Nangka, Bawang Assan game changers
SIBU: Nangka and Bawang Assan state constituencies will be the game changer for Barisan Nasional (BN) to wrest the stronghold of the opposition – Sibu parliamentary seat this coming 14th General Election (GE14).
Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee said if the result of the last state election was anything to go by, mathematically, BN could win (the seat) with about 7,000 votes.
He pointed out to the massive support from the Bumiputera community in Nangka and Bawang Assan towards BN during the 2016’s state election.
“Sibu parliamentary constituency is made up of three state constituencies, namely Nangka, Bawang Assan and Pelawan. In 2016 state election, we (BN) won in Bawang Assan with about 4,000 votes. In Pelawan, however, we lost by about 4,000 votes. But we won in Nangka with about 7,000 votes.
“So, capturing Sibu seat is not impossible because mathematically, we had won by 7,000 majority. In this regard, we need to work together in unity as one full force to unseat the opposition this time around,” Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health, said.
He was speaking when officiating at Nangka state constituency’s Pre-Gawai Dayak celebration here on Friday night.
The event which grouped together all the 34 longhouses in the constituency was organised by Nangka state constituency longhouse committee.
In the 13th GE, DAP fielded a new face – pharmacist Oscar Ling Chai Yew, who garnered 26,808 votes to edge his closest rival – Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau, who polled 23,967 votes, while Independent Narawi Haron got 203 votes in a three-cornered fight.
Dr Annuar, who is Nangka assemblyman urged voters in Nangka to solidly rally behind BN and support whoever is the candidate put up by BN to wrest the seat.
“Whoever is BN candidate, we will give full support but of course, the candidate must be winnable, friendly particularly to the Bumiputera community and acceptable to them (Bumiputera). This is because you know Bawang Assan and Nangka will determine who will win the seat.
“As you saw in the last (state) election – the support of Bumiputera in Bawang Assan and Nangka (for BN) was massive. Therefore, whoever is the candidate BN want to put up – it has to really be acceptable to the
Bumiputera. aspirations of the
“We in PBB will have no problem in working with anybody else to make sure that BN wrest Sibu parliamentary seat,” he said.
He said winning Sibu parliament would mean more could be done to develop the town due to bigger allocation for (member of) parliament.
“We have already lost out by two terms for Sibu Parliamentary
Sibu parliamentary constituency is made up of three state constituencies, namely Nangka, Bawang Assan and Pelawan. — Dr Annuar Rapaee, Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research
constituency. So, I urge the people to give full support to BN to win back the seat,” he said.
At the same time function, Dr Annuar also handed out minor rural project (MRP) fund totalling RM142,000 to the 34 longhouses in Nangka state constituency.
Addressing a crowd of about 500 people, he reminded therm that the fund was meant for the longhouses to roll out various activities.
The night was spruced up by traditional dances, singing, sketch and lucky draws.
Also present were councillor Ibrahim Laili, Penghulu Richard Ampi and Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) Sibu chairman Chambai Lindong.