KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is determined to uphold the state government’s Sarawak-centric leadership policy.
This is by taking into account the interests of all races.
He said this Sarawak-centric policy had been upheld by the leaders of today and the prior years as well.
“We are Sarawak-centric and not race-centric, as we want to be fair to all races — the Melanaus are our people, the Bidayuhs are our people and the Ibans are also our people.
“No single race can govern this state and whichever is given the power to lead must be fair to those it is leading,” he said when officiating at the earth-breaking ceremony for Wisma Melayu Sarawak in Petra Jaya here today.
To demonstrate his point, Abang Johari said he recently launched the Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF) and Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) headquarters at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee.
“And today, I am with the Malay people, and next month, I will be with the Orang Ulu for their forum in Miri and will also provide for their building. We will also help the Bidayuh community,” he said.
Abang Johari said fairness towards all races was practised as all these races were considered as one and hoped that all other races would have a similar philosophy.
At the same time, he said all races would benefit from the income gained by the state government such as the state sales tax (SST) from Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and other oil and gas companies, adding that this income would be distributed for development in the state.
Thus, he said, the state government would continue to defend the state’s laws and utilise these regulations to develop Sarawak.
The chief minister also stressed the importance of knowledge and congratulated the Sarawak Malay Cultural Foundation on its policy of adding to the society’s knowledge.
“This will be the basis for us to develop the economy of the Malay people and also Sarawak as a whole,” he said.
Abang Johari also congratulated the Sarawak Malay Cultural Foundation for having its own building, Wisma Melayu Sarawak, adding that this realised the late former chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem’s wish.
Also present were the Chief Minister’s wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar; Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip; Assistant Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, and other representatives.
