SIBU: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate for Bawang Assan, Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew, has unveiled his election manifesto.

       Lau said if he won the polls, a mini library for every longhouse - the first of its kind in Bawang Assan - will be set up to allow students to study in a conducive atmosphere.

       Speaking at a press conference, Lau said he was determined to push for it, as he sympathised with the students.

       "The children in their longhouse do not have a good environment to study in their own room. They have to come out to the 'ruai' (verandah of their longhouse) and put out their tables. And sometimes, the adults will also be doing their things there,” he said.

       Lau, 56, said that if he was given the mandate by the 19,650 voters, he would make sure that the project comes into fruition.

       The Internet connectivity, he said, is another aspect which he wanted to improve upon.

       "The biggest complaint during this pandemic is the weak Internet connectivity. I have seen children sitting outside their homes trying to get the best coverage.

       “I have written to the MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission), and they have gone down to look at the situation," he said.

       A lawyer by profession, Lau also proposed two new bridges, with one linking Sibu town to Sungai Bidut and the other from the Kwong Ann ferry point to Paradom.

       "The previous chief minister wants to phase out all ferries in the state and replace them with bridges. With these bridges, they will link Sibu to Sarikei, Meradong and other places in the central region," he said.

       Lau also said that a number of households in the constituency are still either having low water pressure or power failure for 25 years.

       "The water pressure in the Chinese and Iban areas is very low. They have to wait until midnight to fill up a water tank as this matter has not been taken care of in the last 20 to 30 years,” he said.

       He added that electricity blackouts are also quite frequent due to overloading.

       He also said there is the problem of flooding that needs to be addressed as Bawang Assan is located in a low-lying area.

       Lau is in a five-cornered fight for the seat with former rep Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Amy Lau Bik Yieng from (DAP), Michelle Ling Shyan Mih from Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), and Independent Ricky Enteri.