LAWAS, July 4: Close cooperation with the federal government led by the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) is a key element for Sarawak to move forward and become well developed by 2030, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
Awang Tengah believed that a strong relationship with the PN led federal government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would strengthen Sarawak.
“Less than four months after Muhyiddin came to power, he has approved to resume with the construction of Lawas district hospital project, the project which has been delayed by the previous government.
“On Friday morning (July 3), the contractor for the project had met me for the project’s details, even though I had told Baru Bian, at that time was the Work Minister (during the previous Pakatan Harapan led government) on the project’s construction but he (Baru) could not do it (to implement the project),” he said when speaking at an appreciation dinner gathering held for frontliners here on Friday night.
Also present at the function were Minister of Rural Development Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad and his deputy Datuk Henry Sum Agong, who is also Lawas MP.
That was why, Awang Tengah opined the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) rallied behind PN led by Muhyiddin as the latter “understands, empathises and deeply cares about the rakyat”.
“Three weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet up with Muhyiddin in Kuala Lumpur, whereby we discussed various matters pertaining to rakyat well-being, especially post Covid-19 period, and during our session that day, the PM has demonstrates his true character that he empathises with the rakyat and this is the kind of leaders that we need,” he said.
He added, to have a prosperous and stable country, especially while coping with the Covid-19 impact which resulted in an economic crisis, such a strong relationship with the federal government of the day, was very crucial.
Meanwhile Dr Abdul Latiff in his speech at the gathering, reiterated on the vital role of Sarawak and Sabah in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
He later used an analogy of husband and wife to describe some of the ups and downs between the federal (Peninsular) government with Sabah and Sarawak over the years.
“Similar to that relationship, our ‘marriage’ have ups and downs…but we pull through all the challenges,” he said.
At that event frontliners who battled Covid-19 from Lawas Health District, Immigration Department, Lawas Fire and Rescue Department and Lawas District Office received mock cheques from the Ministry of Rural Development.
Earlier that day, Abdul Latiff visited villagers in Kampung Awat Awat , in Lawas district, where some of their houses were razed by fire back in 2013 and 2014.
Kampung Awat-Awat, a floating village famous for its smoked fish or ‘Tahai’, is believed to be over 120 years old with about 1,500 people, mostly fisherman residing there.
During the visit, Abdul Latiff announced an allocation of RM1.4 million via federal funding to help build Kampung Awat-Awat Jetty. -DayakDaily
