BETONG: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang yesterday threw an invitation to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to come over to Sarawak to view for himself the development delivered by Barisan Nasional (BN) to the state.

IT’S OFFICIAL: Jabu signs on a plaque to mark his officiating of the event Saturday night.

“I am openly inviting him (Anwar) to come over and view the development progress in Sarawak and to tell to the people in his constituency  of  Permatang Pauh how Sarawak has progressed so much,” Jabu said during a dinner by Sokanjaya, the sports club of Betong Division Public Works Department (PWD), on Saturday.

Jabu  said  Anwar and his supporters should not talk  about how they wanted to run the state if they continued to be ignorant of the challenges of bringing development to a state such as Sarawak.

“Do not talk big. That’s why I challenge Anwar to come to Sarawak, especially to Betong, and see for himself the development that is now taking place.

“As far as I know, Sarawak has indeed progressed and developed tremendously under the leadership of the current state government. Therefore, his allegation that Sarawak is left behind in terms of development is not true and just aimed at gaining political support,” he said.

Jabu urged all Sarawakians to reject claims made by the opposition, especially PKR, saying these claims were not made  based on facts but merely aimed at dividing the people.

He pointed out that through the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) the government would be addressing development in the rural areas to close the economic gap dividing the rural and urban communities.“I am openly calling on all his (Anwar) supporters and PKR  leaders in the state  to  support  the current state leadership who have proved themselves capable as shown by the rapid development taking place throughout the state to back their claims.

“There is no future if you join the opposition, and this has been amply proven by the unending power struggles among the opposition,” he said.

Jabu further added that some of opposition leaders had returned to BN as they finally realised that only BN could lead the people and country.

“It is not easy to develop a state without the support of the people. In the case of Sarawak, we have a strong and capable leader in the person of our Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. With him at the helm, Sarawak has turned into a very much developed state,” he said.

Jabu later announced a RM10,000 grant to Kelab Sokanjaya of Betong and RM5,000 for the club’s education fund.

He also launched the club’s magazine and Betong Sokanjaya Cooperative.

The dinner was held at Dewan Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan and among those present were Jabu’s wife Senator Dato Sri Empiang, Assistant Minister for Agriculture Modernisation Datuk Peter Nyarok Entri, Lubok Antu MP William Nyalau Badak and Bukit Saban assemblyman Robert Lawsan Chuat.