KUCHING, Oct 24: The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI), a local human rights civil society, fully supports Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s point that collective responsibility and inclusivity must form part of Sarawak’s approach for development.
TSI chairman Datuk John Tenewi, in a press statement, said the organisation believed that there is no other way to develop Sarawak and to become competitive with the globalised world by 2030 unless every community comes together to play their role.
“TSI commends the Right Honorable Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg for the statement he made on Tuesday, October 20 at the launching of the Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF) and the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) headquarters at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, where he proclaimed that development in Sarawak must be the responsibility of all communities and that no one single community can rule the state alone.
“TSI is very happy and encouraged by the Chief Minister’s view that coincides exactly with one of TSI’s five main objectives, that is to promote a peaceful and harmonious living environment where there must be equality among the various ethnic groups in all aspects: politics, economics, religions and cultures and other aspects,” he said.
On the other hand, he opined that Sarawak will inevitably become a failed state if the state government pursues the path of exclusivity, dominance and marginalisation.
He added that such a path will bring about political and economic instability.
At the same time, Tenewi said TSI also commended the state government’s move to provide a grant of RM20 million for the construction of the nine-storey Panggau Dayak Towers for DCF and DCCI.
He added the project is also in line with TSI’s two main objectives, which are to create a Sarawak identity based on its rich and unique diversities and to promote a healthy economy.
Tenewi said the hopes of TSI is that when the Towers are completed, it will highlight a Dayak character to further enrich and diversify the architectural heritage in Sarawak’s capital city. —DayakDaily
