By Lian Cheng, Ling Hui and Kadir Edison
KUCHING, April 1: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin has called Sarawak his second home, a place which is always on his mind.
“From the beginning, with Allah’s permission, since I was sworn in as the prime minister, I have never forgotten about Sarawak and Sabah. They are always in my mind.
“That is why I have been travelling back and forth because Sarawak is my second home,” said Muhyiddin at a townhall session held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) in conjunction with his two-day visit to Sarawak starting today.
He explained that he called Sarawak his second home as he felt close to the people of Sarawak, not because he literally has a “second home” here.
“Sarawak is my second home in the sense that I feel it is so close. What (Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi) Abang Johari (Tun Openg) said is very true,” he said.
Muhyiddin had travelled to Sarawak many times before and this two-day trip marks his second trip to Sarawak as prime minister. His first trip as prime minister was his visit to Sibu to officiate Malaysia Day Celebration on Sept 16, 2020.
He acknowledged the vastness of Sarawak which he described as a region (‘wilayah’) instead of a state, quoting the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)
“I cannot remember the many places I have visited, (some of which are) into the far remote. And I think if you were to do it, until now, you won’t be able to reach most parts of Sarawak, as much as you try.
“Maybe the CM has done so. And perhaps many Sarawakians have done that but for a person from Peninsular Malaysia, to cover this huge State called ‘Wilayah’ in MA63 (which) I recognise, is not easy,” said Muhyiddin. — DayakDaily
