Manyin (fifth left) together with Snowdan (fourth left), John (fifth right), Serian Resident Dahim Dadot (third left) and community leaders at the dinner on Saturday.
SERIAN: The convincing win of Sarawak BN in Serian during the May 7 state election will be returned to the people through various development projects that can improve and modernise the division further.
In giving this assurance, Minister of Youth, Sports and Solidarity Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said the state BN won 77.8 per cent or more than two thirds of all seats in the State Legislative Assembly in what was the best and unprecedented victory in Sarawak’s political history.
“After the election, we (state BN) will not be focusing on politics but rather on ways on how to develop Serian as there are still a lot of room for improvement,” said Manyin during the Serian BN thanksgiving and victory dinner and 2016 Gawai celebration at SJK Chung Hua, Serian multipurpose hall on Saturday.
Among the two major projects which will be carried out in Serian this year, he revealed, is the construction of a Government Administrative Centre which was launched by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem during the election campaign.
He expected the construction of the centre to start by October this year and completed within two years.
Another project in the pipeline, he added, is the construction of a conference centre that is expected to rival the iconic Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
“The chief minister has also urged all of the ADUN (state assembly members) to fulfil our promises made during the campaigning period,” said Manyin, who is also Tebedu assemblyman, on behalf of other BN lawmakers present at the function – Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn (Tarat), John Ilus (Bukit Semuja), Martin Ben (Kedup), Snowdan Lawan (Balai Ringin) and Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem.
He further pointed out that development projects which go hand-in-hand with the expansion of Serian town would be the ideal platform for the state government to improve the livelihood of the Bidayuh-majority division.
According to him, the socio-economic level of the people in Serian could be gauged from the huge number of 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) recipients in the division.
“When there are a lot of BR1M recipients, it signals that there are still a lot of Serian people who are not well off,” he elaborated.
Meanwhile, Manyin explained the portfolio of his new ministry to the some 500 guests at the dinner, saying it is almost similar to the former Ministry of Social Development.
He said the only extra role is ‘solidarity’, which is to maintain and improve the state’s unity and harmony among the people of different races, religions and cultures.
“We are thankful that the unity and solidarity in Sarawak is unwavering and the ministry will assure that this will be maintained and safeguarded to make the state a role model for other states and nations,” said Manyin.
He also said the recent state election saw all the candidates from different political divides campaigning in peace while paying great respect to their opponents by not stirring sensitive issues.
“That is what we are in Sarawak. That is our Sarawakian way and a reflection of a true Sarawakian,” he pointed out.
