MIRI: History was made in the Telang Usan constituency recently with the launch of its Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) liaison committees.
There are 65 committees with 1,800 members in 65 longhouses and settlements throughout the vast and sparsely populated constituency.
PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas was scheduled to officiate at the lunching ceremony at Dewan SJK C Kee Tee Long Lama last weekend, but due to heavy commitments, he was represented by Baram Member of Parliament Anyie Ngau.
A total of 410 people who attended the event complied strictly with the public health standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The committees are aimed at strengthening PBB (ultimately the Gabungan Parti Sarawak [GPS]) machinery at all 88 villages within the area with better-organised party structure, said Telang Usan incumbent assemblyman, Dennis Ngau.
“The committee will work closely with longhouse headmen and the village safety and security committees,” he said.
Dennis, who is also PBB Telang Usan chairman, said this is the first of such committee formed in northern Sarawak.
“Other DUN may have in the form of ranting being set up in villages, we in Telang Usan branch do have rantings set up at nine zone in the constituency and they are Ranting Apoh, Baram Hilir, Long Lama, Long Miri, Akah Patah Hilir, Akah Patah Hulur, San Hilir, San Hulu and Pana (Ului Tinjar),” he said.
All the committees at the village level will work closely with the ‘ranting’ committee, he added.
Dennis noted that as the country is still facing Covid 19, this coming state election will be held in a new normal.
“Thus, this newly formed committee will help us run and manage our political campaigns in longhouses or villages in Telang Usan under strict SOP compliance,” he said.
Currently, PBB Telang Usan has more than 6,000 active members.
All committee members are given special printed T-shirts and a certificate with the term 2021-2022.
“With the establishment of these committees, we are confident of delivering our services to the longhouses within Telang Usan,” Dennis said.
He thought of the committee as a family under one roof.
Each committee comprises a minimum of 30 to a maximum of 100 persons depending on the size of the longhouse.
On record, the most number of the committees are at Long Bedian, Long Bemang, Long Pilah and Daleh Long Pelutan.
