By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 10: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has called on the Chinese community, particularly voters in Kuching, Sibu and Miri, to renew their mandate for the Gabungan Parti Sarawak-led (GPS) State government to continue addressing key issues and advancing Sarawak’s development.
Responding to requests raised by Federation of Chinese Associations Sarawak president Dato Sri Richard Wee, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government was prepared to consider proposals concerning land matters, immigration policies and procedures for employing foreign workers, but stressed that he could not make any commitments without a fresh mandate.
“Much as I would like to say yes, I approve, but I don’t have the mandate now. I cannot say yes, nor can I say no. I have no mandate until Dec 12.
“If you want that, you give me back your mandate. Especially Kuching, Sibu and Miri. You give us back the mandate, then we work together for the good of Sarawak,” he said after witnessing the installation ceremony of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sarawak’s new office bearers for the 2025-2028 term at a hotel here tonight.
He was responding to three key proposals presented by Wee, covering the streamlining of foreign-worker procedures, attracting expatriate professionals and resolving land-title issues affecting Chinese schools and houses of worship.
On immigration, Abang Johari noted that Sarawak was already providing five-year visas to expatriates and professionals, while acknowledging the concerns raised over foreign-worker application procedures.
Earlier, Wee had called on the Sarawak government to reduce foreign-worker work-permit application fees and consider extending the permitted period of service for workers who had performed well and whom employers wished to retain.
“Reducing work-permit application fees would lower employers’ staffing costs and help ease inflationary pressures. This would bring savings to private employers and help small and medium-sized enterprises reduce operating costs,” he said.
He also highlighted complaints that foreign-worker permit applications were time-consuming and cumbersome, proposing that the government simplify the process and strengthen online services, potentially adopting a model similar to that of Urban Transformation Centres (UTCs).
Wee said Sarawak continued to depend on foreign workers in sectors such as construction, plantations, domestic work and elderly care, where their contributions helped address labour shortages and maintain essential services.
On attracting expatriate professionals, he said Sarawak’s expanding economy had created demand for skilled personnel in specialised fields, including nursing, medicine and engineering.
“We recommend that the Sarawak government study the example of Singapore or Australia by conducting regular assessments and reviews to identify workforce needs in different sectors and have a highly targeted and tiered system in our immigration strategy to attract talent.
“Sarawak should make effective use of its immigration autonomy and consider easing relevant restrictions as well as providing attractive conditions and incentives, longer working permits for these targeted professionals in their relocation in order to attract these professionals to work and serve in Sarawak,” he said.
Wee said such a strategy would help fill critical staffing gaps while facilitating the transfer of technical knowledge and strengthening local talent through professional collaboration.
The third proposal concerned land-title issues affecting Chinese schools, many of which, Wee said, continued to operate on land designated for agricultural use despite having been established at their present locations for many years.
He appealed to the State government to facilitate the conversion of such land titles specifically for educational purposes and consider granting 999-year leases to provide schools with long-term security and stability.
“We are hoping such consideration be given to all houses of worship for their specific purpose too,” he added.
In his speech, Wee acknowledged the Sarawak government’s development projects, welfare programmes and forward-looking education policies, saying these initiatives had contributed to improving living standards, raising educational and knowledge levels, strengthening economic performance and bringing communities closer together.
He credited Abang Johari’s leadership and vision for driving these efforts, saying the initiatives deserved recognition and wholehearted support from Sarawakians.
However, he stressed that effective implementation was equally important to ensure the public genuinely benefited from government policies and programmes, including through increased disposable income.
Wee acknowledged that administrative shortcomings and implementation challenges could arise, adding that there was always room to refine processes and improve service delivery.
He said the three proposals were based on feedback received from various sectors of society and expressed hope that the state government would give them due consideration.
“Let us continue working together to contribute to Sarawak’s development and march together in the journey of our nation building,” he said.
Abang Johari, in concluding his remarks, expressed hope that the government and the community would continue working together to build the Sarawak they aspired to. — DayakDaily
