Abg Jo confident S’wak will be most progressive state

SIBU: Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg is confident Sarawak will be the most progressive state in Malaysia by the year 2030 based on the implementation of its development programmes and plans.

He said former chief ministers like the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan and Dato Penghulu Tawi Seli had provided the basis for the development process whereas Tun Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Yakub continued the development including setting up Sarawak Foundation to help students acquire study loans.

He added Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud introduced the politic of development whereas Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem presented several new initiatives encompassing fighting for Sarawak’s rights.

“Thank God, with the trust given, I will continue the policies which have been introduced while presenting several new initiatives such as the digital economy,” he said when launching the statelevel ‘Negaraku Sehati Sejiwa’ 2017 programme at Dataran Pehin Setia Raja in Mukah yesterday.

He said as Sarawak progressed, the state could also contribute towards the nation’s development.

In this connection, he said several measures would be introduced to tap the knowledge and new opportunities because the economy has become integrated whether in this region or globally.

In the effort to spur Sarawak to be the most developed state in Malaysia by the year 2030, the Chief Minister cited Estonia, a country in Europe as an example.

He said Estonia was a small country but possessed high technology which enabled it to be developed and comparable with several other developed nations in the world.

“If Estonia could progress, Sarawak could also be likewise,” Abang Johari, who is Satok assemblyman pointed out.

After the programme’s launching, the raising of the national flag followed by singing of national anthem were also held.

Abang Johari later handed over the national flags to representatives of various government agencies, community leaders and non-governmental organisations.

He later flagged off the Kembara Merdeka convoy which involved 25 vehicles.

Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah who is also Dalat assemblywoman, in her welcoming speech said she was grateful that Mukah was chosen to host an important state-level event with national significance.

Wife of the Chief Minister Datin Amar Dato Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research, Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs, Abdullah Saidol and state secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Gani were among those present.