By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 26: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg today likened the coming State election to a school examination, telling Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) members to “revise” their achievements, strengthen party unity and prepare to score an “A”.
Speaking at PBB’s Special Convention for the Central Zone in Sibu today, the PBB president said the gathering was similar to students revising before an examination, where they review their past performance, strengthen their weaknesses and prepare themselves for the questions ahead.
“When we were in school, before facing an examination, we would prepare ourselves. We revised all our subjects. Things that were good, we improved. Formulas that we had forgotten, we remembered again.
“When we prepare well, we can achieve good results. This is what we are doing today,” he said in a recording of his speech later shared with DayakDaily.
Abang Johari said the convention was an opportunity for PBB to review what had been achieved over the past five years and assess its readiness for the next challenge.
He said PBB, as the backbone of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), must continue strengthening itself and remain united.
He also reminded members not to take their achievements for granted, warning that complacency could affect the party’s future.
The Premier later shared a personal anecdote about a former classmate who failed his Higher School Certificate (HSC) General Paper examination after answering only one section of the paper and failing to complete another section.
He said the classmate had assumed he had done enough because he had answered the available questions in one section, but failed because he did not read the examination instructions carefully.
“When he came back from the examination, my mother asked him whether he had done well.
“He said, ‘I failed, aunty. I answered Section A, but I did not answer Section B, which caused me to fail,’” he recalled.
Using the story as a reminder for PBB members, Abang Johari said the party must not assume success was guaranteed simply because of past achievements.
“Do not take things easy. Do not take things for granted. We must get an A in the examination that is coming,” he said.
Also present were PBB deputy presidents Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; senior vice presidents Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof and Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; permanent chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; secretary-general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi who is also the chairman for PBB Convention in Central Zone; and vice president Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee who is the deputy chairman for PBB Convention in Central Zone. — DayakDaily
