SARIKEI: The local community in Sarikei did not miss the opportunity to meet and engage with the Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg when he stopped by Al-Muttaqin Mosque in conjunction with the Motorcycle Convoy programme from Batang Lupar Bridge 1 to Sibu on Thursday.

The stopover not only brightened the atmosphere on the mosque grounds, but also reflected the leadership approach of the Sarawak Premier who strongly prioritises close relations with the people while personally inspecting the progress of development along the convoy route.

Al-Muttaqin Sarikei Mosque Committee member Nor Hayati Abdulrani said the people of the mosque were very honoured to receive a visit from Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari along with the convoy.

According to her, the opportunity to meet state leaders face-to-face was a very meaningful experience, which reflected his leadership quality of approaching the people.

"The presence of the Sarawak Premier means a lot to us because it is not every day that the community has the opportunity to meet the state leader face-to-face. The response from the residents is also very encouraging.

"He is known as a leader who is close to the people and is committed to development. We can see many changes in Sarawak as a result of his leadership," she said.

Meanwhile, Ketua Kampung Seberang Maimunah Saee described the convoy as a manifestation of the Sarawak Government's commitment to continue reaching out to the people while personally reviewing the progress of development in each area.

He said that various high-impact projects implemented during the leadership of Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari including the construction of the Batang Lupar Bridge and other infrastructure development, had brought great benefits to the people.

"We express our deepest appreciation to the Sarawak Premier for stopping by to engage with the Sarikei community. His concern for the welfare of the people has driven the community to continue to support his leadership,” he said.

For Councilor Mornurazli Morshidi, who is also Head of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Kuala Rajang Youth Branch, the convoy is an approach that provides added value because it allows the state leader to personally inspect the condition of the roads, public facilities and the lives of the community along the journey from Batang Lupar to Sibu.

According to him, this on-the-ground approach not only strengthens the relationship between the government and the people, but also gives a true picture of development progress and the current needs of the community.

"The organisation of a convoy like this provides a different approach as it allows leaders to see for themselves the state of the community and infrastructure facilities along the way.

"I also hope that more young people can participate in programmes like this in the future so that they will appreciate the development efforts that are being implemented throughout Sarawak," he said.

The motorcycle convoy reflected the commitment of the Sarawak Government in adopting a leadership approach that is close to the people, in addition to being a platform to strengthen ties and ensure that the development of the state continues to move in line with the needs of the community. -UKASnews