LIMBANG: Termites are insects that feed on wood, frequently becoming pests that cause significant damage to homes and other wooden structures.
Alluding to leaders who resembled the traits of ‘termites, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said such leaders are those avoided by the state government’s administration on account of its adverse effects on the government of the state.
He asserted that it was important to avoid these leaders in efforts to develop the state to ensure that Sarawak remains ‘beautiful inside and out’.
“Like this old surau (Surau Darul Ehsan) it looks beautiful from the outside, but the inside is damaged due to its structure being eaten by termites. This situation is dangerous because it can make the building collapse.
“It’s the same with Sarawak, we must have a good state from the outside and the inside. Avoid these ‘termites’ in our state, because they will have a bad and dangerous effect on us,” he said when officiating at the newly rebuilt Surau Darul Ehsan Tun Abang Haji Openg at Kampung Bunga Raya, here today.
Abang Johari assured that there were no ‘termites’ in the state’s administration as they had been trained to be leaders of high quality from an early age.
“That’s why Sarawak has no problem in governing because it makes the Medina Charter the core of its government, developing the state and taking care of the people of multiple races and religions,” he added.
The Premier expressed his appreciation to the Limbang community for naming the surau after his late father, Tun Abang Openg Abang Sapiee, who once served as the Limbang District Officer.
As such, he said the state government would continue to upgrade existing suraus and mosques in the state.
“Apart from that, the Sarawak government through Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak (TBS) also offers the Ibnu Khaldun Scholarship for Muslim children to continue their studies at selected leading universities globally.
“The scholarship will serve to fund Sarawak children who are taking their master’s degree or PhD in certain courses, especially in the new world economy so that we can produce authoritative and influential leaders of world-class Islamic education,” he explained.
He stressed that the effort would be further intensified with the establishment of the Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Fund to be tabled at the next State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting in November to save the state’s surplus income for future generations.
