By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Feb 20: The ‘Premier’ title is not for one individual, but for the whole of Sarawak, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said changing the ‘Chief Minister’ title to ‘Premier’ is not for glorification but to reflect Sarawak’s different status from the other states in the Federation of Malaya.
“When we have this status, it doesn’t mean that we want to be proud. People say it’s because of glorification.
“It’s not glorification, it’s because of what we have signed before during the formation of Malaysia, and it must be recognised,” he said.
Abang Johari said he would not stay in power with the title either ‘Chief Minister’ or ‘Premier’ for long and that Sarawak’s rights and interests must continue to be fought for.
“I won’t be the Chief Minister of Premier for a long time. One day, I’ll have to say ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’.
“Then, the country must be in harmony and progressive. And that is our vision to transform Sarawak as an economic hub, not only for Malaysia but for the region,” he said during the Federation of the Division Chinese Association Sarawak’s Unity Night Year 2022 at a local hotel last night.
Following the amendments to the Federal Constitution based on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which recognises Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) State government tabled a bill on Feb 15 during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting to change the ‘Chief Minister’ designation to ‘Premier’.
The Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was passed on the same day.
Only after the bill is gazetted that Abang Johari and future heads of the Sarawak State will be addressed as ‘Premier’. — DayakDaily
