LAWAS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the early wins of two seats uncontested in the Sarawak election was a good sign for Barisan Nasional.
Najib said the walkovers indicated that the opposition was weakened as it did not field any candidates.
Najib was referring to the Bukit Sari and Bukit Kota seats, which are under Lawas and Limbang constituencies respectively.
Najib asked the people to rally behind Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem to endure prosperity for the state.
"Where is the opposition? They said they are strong but why have they not put candidates in all areas?
"If they are united, why do they go against each other?
Najib said he would stand firm alongside Adenan, and ensure that the Federal government worked hand in hand with the state government and a federal government to benefit the people.
He also criticised the Sarawak PKR chief, who is also Ba'kelalan candidate Baru Bian, for using the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land issue as his agenda when it had already been championed by BN government.
"We have already surveyed thousands of hectares of native lands and we will continue to do so as to give the lands to the rightful owners.
"So what issue is Baru bringing? He is no longer relevant as this is something that has been implemented; a work in progress which the people of Ba'kelalan will also benefit from," stressed Najib.
He added that the new Lawas airport promised under the 11th Malaysian Plan (11MP) was a gift for the folks who had been loyal supporters of BN.
Lawas itself is expected to be transformed when the Pan Borneo Highway project is fully completed, attracting more people from Sabah and neighbouring Brunei.
Barisan Nasional's Bukit Sari incumbent Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan who won the seat unopposed, said it was time for the Ba'kelalan people to wake up after being under opposition rule for five years.
"The BN leadership has chosen Willie Liau as the candidate and while he may have weaknesses like all of us humans, but the strength is he has Sarawak CM and the PM behind him," said Awang.
Najib made his way to Darul Makmur mosque near town afterwards to attend Friday prayers and a luncheon, before returning to Miri.