By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, May 12: Sarawak has transformed from a State once looked down upon to one that now inspires hope and admiration from the rest of Malaysia, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Speaking during the Wesak Day celebration held at the Malaysian Buddhist Association Sarawak Branch building here today, Dr Sim said that Sarawak is vastly different from what it was a decade ago.
“Ten years ago, people looked down on us (Sarawak). Now, the whole country looks up and places their hope in us,” he said.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG), credited the people of Sarawak for this remarkable progress.
“It is because of you, the Anak Sarawak—whether Buddhist, Muslim, Christian or Hindu—we come together as one.
“We believe in prosperity, inclusiveness and environmental sustainability,” he added.
He also injected humour when highlighting Sarawak’s unique identity card (IC) number, which ends with 13 and bears the letter ‘K’.
“If you look at our IC, the number is 13, which is the last in the country. But now people look up to the bottom.
“And luckily, our IC also has a K—K for ‘King’, which symbolises respect,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.
He contrasted this with the IC code ‘H’ used in another State, joking that it could be linked to ‘hop’ or ‘harap’—a jab at political instability and party-hopping.
He went on to say that Sarawak continues to walk the talk by supporting all religions through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), making Wesak Day an official State function—a unique move in Malaysia.
Also present were Malaysian Buddhist Association representative Ven Jing Jie, Malaysian Buddhist Association Sarawak Branch chairman Dato Sri Dr Tay Chin Kin, Unifor director Datuk Georgina Apphia Ngau, and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng. — DayakDaily
