MIRI – Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) components are already on the pre-15th general election (GE15) campaign trail, attempting to garner the support of community leaders, judging from the latest happenings on the ground.
Their leaders and incumbent MPs have been visiting villages and longhouses to rally support from the communities.
The latest updates from the state’s Public Communication Unit on its website today showed increasing GPS-organised activities in the rural areas.
GPS, which is now in power in Sarawak, is made up of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Progressive Democratic Party.
In Lawas district today, PBB vice president Datuk Henry Sum Agong, who is Lawas MP, said community leaders must function as the government’s links with the residents.
Speaking when meeting community leaders of the Lun Bawang ethnic group in Lawas town, he said community leaders like penghulu and village chiefs are “obliged to defend the ruling administration against opposing forces”.
“There are opposing forces going around now trying to spread false information against the government,” he said. “Community leaders must dispel these opposing forces.”
He added that community leaders “must act as spokesmen for the government”.
“They must help the government disseminate information on the latest government policies and projects.
Sum, who is federal deputy transport minister, said it is important that community leaders act as ears and eyes for the ruling government.
He told them to update residents on what the government is doing to improve infrastructure projects in their localities.
GPS is in the last stage of finalising the candidates’ list for the 31 parliamentary constituencies in this vast state.
PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdullah Saifol recently revealed that GPS has given a directive to all its machineries in the 31 constituencies to be ready.
“In fact, we are already canvassing for support on the ground,” said Abdullah, who is the state’s deputy minister for public communications and information.
Out of the 31 parliamentary seats, GPS controls 19. Independents have a hold on two, while the rest are occupied by opposition parties DAP, Parti Sarawak Bersatu and PKR. – The Vibes, September 2, 2022
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