Lubok Antu PKR division will form a special committee tomorrow to keep track on development projects promised by the BN during the Batang Ai by-election.

The committee will be formed when Jawah Gerang, the defeated PKR candidate, holds a ‘thank you’ event at his longhouse in Sayat, Lubok Antu.

batang ai by election jawah gerang khalid ibrahim campaign 310309 01 "This committee will monitor the projects and ensure that the BN keeps its promises to the people,” Jawah said today.

BN leaders have promised about RM200 million worth of projects during the by-election. The projects include RM2 million for the upgrading of longhouses, RM6 million for electrification programme, RM2.5 million for a telecommunication tower and community broadband centre, RM40.2 million for Universal Service Provision projects, R420,000 for minor rural projects, RM62 million for tar-sealing the seven-kilometer Lemanak Road, the survey and design of Lemanak-Engkari Road, and tar-sealing the 10km ring road in Batang Ai.

Apart from these projects, the government has also promised to settle unpaid claims as a result of the construction of Batang Ai hydro-electric dam and to issue land titles to the land owners.

Jawah said the Batang Ai people have been waiting for these promises to be fulfilled for the last 27 years.

This committee, he said, would ensure that these promises are fulfilled and projects delivered as soon as possible, otherwise the same promises and projects would be made again in the coming state election, expected in two years.

'We must work harder'

Jawah also pacified his supporters, asking them not to be disappointed with his defeat. “Instead, we should regroup and re-evaluate as this was the beginning of an interesting journey towards the Dewan Undangan Negeri 2011 when the state election will be called.

"We may lose the battle of Batang Ai, but not our spirit and our struggle," he said, adding that the recent defeat should spur them to work harder.

jawah gerang malcolm mussen batang ai by election 280309 The five-term Lubok Antu MP lost to BN’s Malcolm Mussen Lamoh by a majority of 1854 votes. Jawah managed to secure only 2053 votes against his rival’s 3907 votes.

Meanwhile, Mussen 49 will be sworn in as a member of the state legislative assembly when it sits on May 11.

The former engineer with the Sarawak Department of Agriculture is seen as a potential leader who will be able to further strengthen the position of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) in the BN.

Mussen was the only candidate put up by PRS president James Masing for consideration by the BN top leadership. The risk he took in fielding a political greenhorn paid off.

Lately, PRS was seen as a party that has been bullied by Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu due to its weak leadership.