KUCHING – It would be good if at least one Bidayuh MP from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) were to be appointed a deputy minister in the new federal cabinet under the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This was expressed by state Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Harry Jinep when met recently and asked about Bidayuh representation in the Anwar-led federal administration.
He said although the new federal cabinet had welcomed five MPs from GPS, including one as a deputy prime minister, many Bidayuhs had expected one MP from the community to be appointed at least as a deputy minister.
In this respect, he opined that Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem was very unlikely to be made a deputy minister, as he had been a full federal minister during the Barisan Nasional (BN) era, and was also a special envoy of the Prime Minister to East Asia during the previous administration.
“Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol is also unlikely to be appointed a federal deputy minister because the Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, who is Stampin MP, is more senior than him in the party.
“Now minus these two, the only person left is Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin, who has been there as a federal deputy minister. He has the experience. He is a young Bidayuh leader, with a proven track record and leadership.
“We all hope for the Puncak Borneo MP to be given the trust to lead the Bidayuh community, based on his strong vote majority. He has the quality and capability to represent the Bidayuhs in the federal cabinet,” said Harry, who is Tasik Biru assemblyman and Progressive Democratic Party vice-president.
Under the previous Perikatan Nasional-led federal administration, Willie was the deputy plantation industries and commodities minister.
Expressing similar sentiments, Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh also agreed with the proposal of having at least one MP from GPS be made a federal deputy minister.
“I can’t say or speculate any further, other than I think it’s good if any of them (Bidayuh MPs in GPS) got to be chosen; at least the Bidayuhs would have a representative in the unity government cabinet,” said Miro, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Youth chief. – Borneo Post Online, December 6, 2022
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