SIBU, May 3: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg hopes the Chinese community would help Barisan Nasional to win 28 out of the 31 seats in Sarawak.
With as many as 28 seats, he said, Sarawak would have a bigger voice to fight for Sarawak.
He urged the Chinese not to be led by the culture of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Democratic Action Party (DAP) but to continue to foster good relationships between different ethnic groups within Sarawak through understanding, marriages and mutual respect.
Abang Johari said this while officiating at the School Rebuilding Project in Kiew Nang Primary School where he also announced a RM1 million allocation for the school’s rebuilding project.
He promised further that if Barisan Nasional (BN) were to win in Lanang constituency, he would give an additional RM1 million to the school.
Appealing for more support for BN-Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) candidate Kelvin Kong, he also promised to increase Kong’s minor rural project funds to allow Kong to bring more financial aid to Lanang.
Abang Johari said there are two Chinese primary schools in his own area, Satok which he has been helping to upgrade by allocating funds for rebuilding and expansion.
“They even named a school block after me but my name is too long to pronounce. Just call me Abang Jo will do,” he said.
Expressing the importance of the Chinese community and Chinese education, he said he has continued late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem’s policy by granting funds to Chinese Independent schools annually, topping up RM1 million each year. As of this year, the annual grant has reached RM7 million.
“Sarawak is also the first state in Malaysia to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC),” he stressed.
Abang Johari believed that the Bumiputera should learn Chinese which he himself also speaks a bit, which he demonstrated by saying “I love you” in Mandarin.
He said on many occasions, he knew what others were talking about in Mandarin but he pretended he did not understand a word.
SJK (C) Kiew Nang which has a history of 80 years, is one of the oldest Chinese schools in Sibu. Presently, it has 388 students.
The total cost of the school rebuilding project is about RM10 million, consisting of three school blocks of four storeys each. — DayakDaily
