KUCHING: Caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg may opt to contest the Gedong seat in the upcoming state election.
He said Gedong was among a number of seats he had been considering, adding that he would announce his decision in due time.
“To be frank, there is more than one seat (that I am eyeing). I concur with Gedong incumbent assemblyman Datuk Naroden Majais that he wants the area to be developed quickly as it needs a huge amount of funds.
“I will consider and I thank Naroden for offering to give way to me if I decide to contest here. I will look at it and will announce the decision when the time comes,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the ground-breaking of the road from Lubok Terangas to Gedong on Wednesday (Nov 17).
Earlier, Naroden who is Entrepreneur and SME Development Assistant Minister in his speech offered to make way for Abang Johari in Gedong, seeing as the area requires rapid development which is only possible with the chief minister at the helm.
Abang Johari said he would have to consult with constituents in his Satok seat.
But he added that whichever area he would be contesting in, as chief minister, it was his duty to ensure all areas in Sarawak were being looked after.
“As chief minister, I am looking after all areas. Be it Gedong, Simunjan, Satok or Petra Jaya. To Naroden and Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, I thank them for their contributions,” he said.
The chief minister said if Naroden insisted on stepping down, the incumbent would serve in an advisory capacity for the state government’s development plans.
“I am not asking him to step down, but if he insists, I thank him for his service,” he said.
