By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 28: The courage to stand firm and defend Sarawak’s rights without compromise is a value embodied by none other than Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, said Chief Political Secretary to the Premier, Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.
“Saya sik berniat untuk bercakap panjang, tetapi saya cuma ingin menekankan satu nilai. Nilai itu adalah keberanian (courage) dan nilai keberanian ini ada pada Yang Amat Berhormat Premier kita (I do not intend to speak at length, but I just want to emphasise one value. That value is courage, and this value of courage is present in our Honourable Premier).
“Keberanian untuk menongkah arus, keberanian untuk menyatakan hak Sarawak tok sik boleh diganggu-gugat – there are no two ways about it (The courage to go against the tide, the courage to assert Sarawak’s rights must not be compromised — there are no two ways about it),” he said.
Fazzrudin, who is also Tupong assemblyman and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers chairman, made the remarks during his speech at the GPS Backbenchers’ Night 2025 held at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) Complex here last night (May 27).
Turning to Abang Johari, who was present at the event, Fazzrudin declared, “Sir, you have put your foot down when it matters the most, and for that, we Sarawakians are forever in your debt.”
He continued, “YAB Premier, Sir, you have shown us the way, and shown us that it can be done. Kini kita dapat mendabik dada dan merasa bangga. (Now we can hold our heads high and feel proud.) Our success has been acknowledged within and outside of Malaysia.”
Fazzrudin recounted past legislative milestones under Abang Johari’s leadership, including the introduction of the State Sales Tax (SST) during the 2019 Budget sitting and the 2023 law to establish the Gas Aggregator.
“Mun kitak semua ingat, enam tahun lepas (2019), kita berbahas hampir tengah malam untuk usul Pindaan Perlembagaan mempertahankan hak Sarawak. Itu asas kepada Perlembagaan Persekutuan kini yang berteraskan MA63 (If you all recall, six years ago (in 2019), we debated until almost midnight on the motion to amend the Constitution to defend Sarawak’s rights. That became the foundation of the current Federal Constitution, which is now based on MA63),” he recalled.
He added that the Premier’s vision has brought tangible progress in infrastructure, economic growth, social and educational policies, and welfare programmes that benefit all Sarawakians.
“We fully accept your vision, Sir, and this is our promise to you. From us at GPS Backbenchers, we will continue to give our full support to implement your vision.”
Fazzrudin also reassured the public of the Backbenchers’ continued role in upholding accountability and good governance despite the opposition’s small numbers.
“You don’t have to worry. This government is transparent, and GPS Backbenchers is part of that mechanism,” he said. — DayakDaily
