BAU: Businessman Henry Harry Jinep, the Barisan Nasional candidate for the predominantly Bidayuh constituency of Tasik Biru, has “ambitious but practical” plans to improve the livelihood of the rural community.
The local boy from Singai in Bau believes that his relationship with the people on the ground over the years had helped him to understand their problems and the reason for the rural-urban drift.
The 48-year-old SPDP member said he would follow the legacy of his predecessor, four-term assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie of Teras, when offering services to the people as well as adding new ideas of his own.
He wants to groom the community to be self-reliant, capitalise on the rich tourism products in the area, among others.
Jinep, who has been holding ‘ceramah’ where his message of development was enthusiastically received, was confident that his plans will get the backing of the government if he retains the seat for BN.
The UK-trained quantity surveyor sees many areas that can be improved for tourism in the constituency of 17,041 registered voters which shares a common boundary with Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Citing the Serikin border village, about 30 minute’s drive from here, he said it was an attraction for local and foreign tourists but the facilities were “not up to standard.”
He said it should be more like Padang Besar where Perlis borders Thailand and draws huge crowds for shopping and entertainment.
He also wants better facilities at other tourist spots like Tasik Biru, a disused gold mine smack in the middle of town, and the Fairy Cave and Wind Cave which are of limestone.
Jinep, a former advisor of Yayasan John Jinep, the charity foundation for the Bidayuh community that helps students from poor families, is also concerned with affordable housing for the people and infrastructure development like better roads.
Even as he spoke of his plans for the future, he reminded the voters that electricity and piped water supply and roads already in place were provided by the government.
He is also involved in the perimeter survey on individual ownership of Native Customary Rights land in Tasik Biru after it was gazetted under the Sarawak Land Code as NCR land.
Chairman of the Tasik Biru PBB branch John Nyigor was happy with the good turnout at Jinep’s ‘ceramah.’
He said many people had come to all the ‘ceramah’ that Jinep had held. “They like him and they like what they hear.”
Jinep is facing a straight fight with DAP’s Mordi Bimol, a 31-year-old Bachelor of Science degree holder who is aide to Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen. -- Bernama