Sunday March 10, 2013

Taib urges Kota Samarahan voters to support incumbent’s replacement

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Voters here are urged to support the Barisan Nasional candidate who will replace incumbent Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib in the general election.

Chief Minister and state Barisan chairman Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the candidate would be “anak Samarahan” (local).

“It is my wish to see anak Samarahan be the member of parliament of this constituency before I retire. I also realise that the people wish to be represented by a local.

“I’ve submitted the candidate’s name to the Prime Minister but I can’t announce it now, so be patient,” he said.

The candidate knew the area very well and would be able to serve the people better if elected, he said during a meet-the-people session here yesterday.

It is widely speculated that the candidate is Asajaya District Officer Rubiah Wang, 44, who is from Kampung Tanjong Parang.

Taib, who is also PBB president, urged the people to support Barisan for continued progress, peace and harmony.

He said by now the people should know which party could really bring continued progress to the people and country.

Barisan elected representatives under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s leadership had a good track record in serving the people and bringing much needed development, he said.

“Let’s give Najib and Barisan a strong mandate so that the country will continue to enjoy political, economic and social stability and further progress,” he said.

“Put aside petty issues and political rhetoric. Let’s look at the bigger picture of further developing Sarawak and Malaysia.”

He said no one in the Opposition was good and experienced enough to lead the country and ensure continued progress for all.

Taib reminded the audience that he was first elected as Kota Samarahan MP nearly 40 years ago when the constituency had a population of only about 1,000 and was very backward.

Today, the constituency had become a thriving educational hub with a population of about 250,000 people, he said.

“The constituency has seen a lot of physical changes over the years with more roads connecting it to the city and other districts. In the past, no students passed their SPM but today we have more than 200 graduates.”

He said when he left the constituency for another in Mukah division, he was confident that Kota Samarahan would continue to grow under other Barisan leaders.

He said between 2010 and 2013, the Federal Government had allocated about RM1.2bil to build basic infrastructure, including schools in the area.

News

Sunday March 10, 2013

Taib urges Kota Samarahan voters to support incumbent’s replacement