KUCHING, Jan 20: Continuous unity and solidarity will ensure Sarawak has a firm grounding towards progress and advancement in the next eight years before ushering in 2030.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said apart from that, it is equally important that Sarawak voice in Parliament must continue to be enhanced with the solid support of all Sarawakians.
“With an improved score in the last general elections, we are grateful that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) shares the responsibility of administering the country as part of the unity government in Putrajaya that saw the appointment of a Deputy Prime Minister from Sarawak, a first in the history of this country.
“This is a significant achievement of the GPS government and as head of the GPS State government, I wish to thank the Prime Minister for the respect his government has accorded to Sarawak by appointing one of his deputies from Sarawak.
“I am quite happy that through the Deputy Prime Minister post, Sarawak has been given some power to pursue what is best for the State and its people, especially on outstanding issues pertaining to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said in his Chinese New Year (CNY) 2023 message.
Abang Johari expressed his delight that the outstanding issues on MA63 are given due priority by the Federal Ggovernment, particularly those that are meant to ensure the effective and speedy implementation of development projects in the State.
He also thanked the Federal government for having endorsed Sarawak’s Public Works Department and Drainage and Irrigation Department as technical departments within the meaning of Treasury Instruction (TI) 182 to implement projects in Sarawak.
He believed this should be the shared spirit of the State and Federal governments to ensure that Sarawak can be developed faster by the orderly decentralisation of power.
He pointed out that as one of the three parts of the federation, Sarawak should be given more attention than before to prevent lopsided development as compared to Peninsular Malaysia, as Sarawak is one of the three top contributors to the national coffer.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari also calls on Sarawakian to continue working towards strengthening unity among each other.
He said based on the current situation, everyone can visit their friends who are celebrating Chinese New Year as a continuous effort to continue to strengthen the bond of friendship between them as well as a mutual respect for each other.
He also said for the people of various races and religions in Sarawak, it has become customary for festivals such as Chinese New Year to share their joy and happiness with other races.
“It’s the same as the situation at Hari Raya, Dayak Gawai or Christmas which is enlivened by the practice of visiting.
“I pray that the atmosphere of harmony as a feature of the Year of the Rabbit will continue to strengthen the atmosphere of unity between various races and religions in this Burning Earth.
“Once again I wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year 2023 celebration and may we be blessed with prosperity and good health,” he said. — DayakDaily
