Remain true to your values. If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.
– Frank Sonnenberg, award-winning author
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) southern zone special convention over the weekend (Sept 23) showcased the political maturity and strong unshakeable unity of the party leaders in steering Sarawak and its people to greater heights of progress unseen in the past.
At the rapid rate of progress and development the state is undergoing, it is set to achieve its goal of attaining developed status well before the targeted 2030. Thanks goes to one man – Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg – who took the reins of government on Jan 13, 2017.
Six years and eight months later since he became the sixth chief minister (title changed to premier in February 2022), Sarawak has now transformed into a state that is the envy of the rest of the nation. It has gained the respect of Putrajaya, and political leaders from across the divide in Malaya are courting the state – and of course Abang Johari.
This situation was different just a little more than six years ago. Sarawak was seen as the ‘anak tiri’ (stepchild); no one in Malaya took us seriously or ‘layan’ or gave two hoots about us. But the no-nonsense Abang Johari and his team of coalition leaders from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) changed all that.
The tumultuous political situation immediately after the fall of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Pakatan Harapan coalition government which hardly lasted two years and the events that took place after the 15th general election were just the opportunity for Sarawak to stamp its mark in national politics.
Sarawak saw the golden opportunity. Top on Abang Johari and the state leaders’ mind was the nation’s political and economic stability. Heeding the advice of the King who appealed for political stability, the Premier’s GPS coalition supported Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who put together a simple coalition with the support of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Umno of 30 MPs.
The rest is history. And now, when Sarawak speaks the whole nation listens. But there are a lot of things to achieve; there are still several lost rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) which have yet to be returned to us.
We cannot rest on our laurels yet. At times, talking in a soft tone may not be enough; we might have to shout to be heard!
The latest concession from Putrajaya is the decision to have Sarawak represented in the National Energy Council (NEC) which will be set up soon.
Said Abang Johari: “Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim approved Sarawak’s request on Sept 16 to include a representative from Sarawak in the council. We are not a member of the Energy Commission, but we have asked to be considered as a member of NEC.
“This energy council will introduce policies for the whole country, and Sarawak is one of the regions that prioritises environmentally friendly or green energy.”
Sarawak’s financial position under Abang Johari is very strong and convincing. When he took over in 2017, the state had something like RM31 billion in reserves. Yesterday, at the special convention, party senior vice president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof revealed that the reserves have increased substantially to RM40 billion.
How did Abang Johari manage to help Sarawak amass such huge reserves? Especially when the state had to fork out billions for infrastructure development and the implementation of numerous Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) incentives to defray the effects of Covid-19?
Simple, the Premier’s daring decisions played a pivitol role in the revenue growth and an enviable state reserve. While past leaders failed to introduce the Sarawak Sales Tax for petroleum products to increase the state’s revenue base, Abang Johari was instrumental in boldly introducing this tax in 2019.
The tax became effective after the Premier bravely took Petronas to court; the national oil company finally reached an out-of-court settlement, agreeing to pay an initial RM1.3 billion owed to the Sarawak government.
The Premier’s emphasis on digital economy has also benefited the state. Since assuming office in 2017, Abang Johari has introduced several initiatives, including the e-wallet Sarawak Pay which is recognised outside Sarawak. The Development Bank of Sarawak and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad are other initiatives introduced by Abang Johari – measures all taken to enhance income and spur development.
Revenue earned are well spent; for example, revenue is spent on socio-economic development and the well-being of the citizens, including funds for mothers post-childbirth, flight fares for Sarawak students studying in Malaya to return home during the school holidays, the Kenyalang Gold Card for senior citizens aged 60 and above, and funds for newborn children.
In his speech at the party’s convention, Abang Johari reiterated PBB’s unwavering commitment to protect Sarawak’s rights, stressing the fact that Sarawak defence of its rights is not an act of promoting regionalism. On the contrary, all we want is the return of our rights as enshrined in MA63. Nothing more nothing less.
Caesar can keep what’s his, but return what he has taken from us!
The convention approved eight resolutions, including the reaffirmation of the party’s undivided support for Abang Johari to continue leading PBB and GPS to ensure state and national stability, and entrusting PBB and the state leadership with protecting Sarawak rights as enshrined in MA63, the State and Federal Constitutions, and the 1962 Inter-Government Committee (IGC) Report.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
