KUCHING, Sept 9: The state government is mulling collaborating with Singapore in the field of education and scientific research.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the idea came about after a meeting he had with the Republic’s Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean three days ago.
He said among the things they talked about was how many Sarawakians working in Singapore or (former) Sarawakians who have acquired Singaporean citizenship have become successful there, and Teo had suggested to Abang Johari that the two nations should initiate a special collaboration.
“Sarawak is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, even to the extent that during my last conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, he said a lot of Sarawakians in Singapore are with special talents, and a lot of Sarawakians who became Singaporean citizens have done quite well in Singapore.
“So much so that Teo suggested that there needs to be a special collaboration in terms of education as well as scientific research between Singapore and Sarawak,” Abang Johari said during the Yayasan John Jinep Gala Dinner at a hotel here Sunday.
He said Singapore has the talent but not much natural resources; therefore if Sarawak could combine its abundance of natural resources with Singapore’s talent, Sarawak would be able to develop its own pool of talents apart from further strengthening its economy.
“If we can combine our resources with their (Singapore) talent and develop our own talent through mutual collaboration, I think our economy will be heading in the right direction.
“More so now that we are going towards the digital economy, as we cannot avoid digitalisation in our way of life because we cannot ask other developed nations to wait for us. Technology doesn’t wait. People say time waits for no man,” said Abang Johari.
He said Sarawakians both young and old should keep abreast with technological transformation so that it would give added value to other resources abundant in Sarawak.
With that, he thank the board members of Yayasan John Jinep which had tirelessly helped many Bidayuh students and young talents in their education in the form of scholarships and education awards.
He said without Yayasan John Jinep, many talents especially among rural youngsters, would not be tapped or be used to their full potential, and the community might still be left behind, which could pose a challenge to further develop Sarawak. — DayakDaily
