All must support party's choice of candidate for Pujut by-election - Fadillah

All Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) component party members must give their full support to the choice of candidate made by the party leadership for the Pujut state seat by-election on July 4, said its Youth chief, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said it was only natural that before any general election or by-election, some individuals would go around promoting themselves as potential candidates.

"However, ultimately, the state BN chairman will announce who will be the candidate to be fielded, and all must accept the decision made and support that candidate.

"We should move together in tandem to ensure victory for the BN candidate. This is important in the spirit of BN since its beginnings," he told reporters after handing out contributions from the Kampung Gita, Matang Welfare Trust Council to several surau in the area.

Fadillah, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief, was asked to comment on some individuals from BN component parties said to be actively going around promoting themselves as potential candidates for the Pujut by-election, although Sarawak BN chairman, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg had already stated that its candidate would only be announced two days before nomination day, June 20.

The Pujut by-election is being called after its incumbent assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon from DAP was disqualified from the state legislative assembly on May 12 over his Australian citizenship.

In the 11th Sarawak state election in May last year, Dr Ting won with a 1,759-vote majority, defeating three candidates, Datuk Hii King Chiong (from BN), Jofri Jaraiee (PAS) and Fong Pau Teck (Independent).

On another matter, Fadilah who is also Works Minister, said projects in Sarawak under the ministry were generally going on smoothly although there had been slight delays, but were expected to be completed on schedule.

He said the four-lane road project from the Emart roundabout at Matang to Stapok, Batu Kawa including the construction of a bridge was 93 per cent completed and would be ready this year.

He added that part of the Pan Borneo Highway project, namely between the 10th milestone and 15th milestone of the Kuching-Serian stretch, was 51 per cent completed; delayed by three per cent.

He noted that the Samarahan Bridge project was 69 per cent completed and Sungai Rimbas Bridge project at Pusa (93 per cent), while others that were still at the evaluation, design and alignment stage were the Jalan Medan Jaya-Jalan Tun Hussein Onn flyover in Bintulu, Batang Rambungan Bridge and Batang Lupar Bridge projects.

-- BERNAMA