By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Dec 4: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), with its diverse and inclusive leadership, will protect the Sarawak Family and not allow Sarawak to go bankrupt, but will instead bring progress and prosperity with proper economic development.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that the GPS’ records are for everyone to see as the Sarawak institution is rooted in cultural unity and a solid sense of social cohesion.
“That’s why Sarawak has Unifor (Unit for Other Religions) that helps other religions, apart from Islam. We also support the Chinese schools because I trust (Dato Sri) Dr Sim (Kui Hian) can change the fate of the Chinese community.
“Similarly for the Bumiputera community, (Datuk Amar Douglas) Uggah (Embas) and I as well as other leaders like (Datuk) Dr (Stephen) Rundi (Utom), (Datuk Amar Michael) Manyin (Jawong) and (Datuk) Gerawat Gala, all of the leaders worked as one family.
“During the Covid-19 crisis, we worked together to curb and control the spread of the disease, and fortunately, we see some good results in these few months with the number of cases having gone down.
“This (spirit of one family) must be safeguarded, and GPS will safeguard this culture that has been embedded in our lives in Sarawak,” he said when speaking at the Leaders with People dinner gathering at a hotel here tonight.
To achieve better development, Abang Johari said Sarawak needed political stability and a strong government while reminding that the State had gone through uncertainty for 22 months to the extent the Rocket (Democratic Action Party) claimed Sarawak would go bankrupt in three years.
As the election alarm has gone off and all kinds of rumours and baseless stories are making the rounds, he believes people have the wisdom to evaluate the records of the Sarawak government from past leaders of Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud to the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem and Abang Johari himself.
“This is our record, and we are fair to all communities.
“With the line-up of diverse leadership, Sarawak will not go bankrupt but will continue to progress and prosper with properly planned economic development. We have the advantage of this situation, and our approach must be right,” he added.
Abang Johari also pointed out the importance of the close friendship and relationship between the Sarawak and Federal governments, which resulted from the bilateral trust and confidence, have allowed Sarawak and Malaysia to move forward.
“The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob)’s visit to Sarawak demonstrated this and the importance of the Malaysian Family whose concept is already deeply rooted in the Sarawak Family.
“We are thankful to the Federal government under the current prime minister’s leadership who also emphasised helping develop Sarawak, not only for road accessibility but also digital connectivity.
“It involves billions in funding but, if possible, increase the allocation so it can help our rural communities with 5G network to accelerate the digital economy in Sarawak,” he hinted.
Abang Johari expressed confidence that with the Prime Minister’s visit, both the State and Federal governments can further strengthen their ties.
“Let us continue to be united in one Malaysian Family spirit to ensure the bright and limitless future of Sarawak,” he urged.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Sarawak DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong and State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion were among those present. — DayakDaily
