No problems working with Putrajaya to disseminate info to masses – Uggah

KUCHING: The Sarawak government has no qualms cooperating with the federal government when it comes to disseminating information on development plans and programmes.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said this is to ensure the people receive the correct message, and applies to mutually-beneficial policies, plans and programmes.

“We can in fact help in the logistic arrangements provided their (federal representatives) provide their schedules and requests in advance to the State Protocol and Event Management Unit of the Chief Minister's Office,” he said.

Uggah said this to the press after receiving a courtesy call from Communications and Multimedia deputy minister Eddin Syazlee Shith, here yesterday.

He stressed, however, that the cooperation was only for official functions and not political programmes.

He cited his appointment as joint chairman of the state and federal government action committee, together with Works Minister Baru Bian, to monitor the successful implementation of federal projects in Sarawak, as an example of state-federal cooperation.

Having said that, Uggah, who is also State Disaster Management Committee chairman, said he was disappointed with the scant coverage provided by national broadcaster RTM over antirabies efforts carried out in the state.

"This (anti-rabies effort) is not a state political programme. We already have federal agencies like the National Disaster Management Committee, Health Ministry, Department of Veterinary Services in Putrajaya, police, military, Fire and Rescue Department, and the Civil Defence Force working closely with us.”

He added that in the many meetings held pertaining to antirabies fight, representatives from RTM were not present.

"This is sad as we need to communicate our strategies of dealing with the (rabies) outbreak to the people. So I hope any miscommunication or misunderstanding here can be resolved,” he said.

Meanwhile, Corporate Affairs assistant minister Abdullah Saidol, who was also present during the meeting, called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police to take stern action against social media users who make inflammatory posts on race or religion.

“In Sarawak, we have a stance where we do not tolerate such bigotry. Serious and immediate action must be taken against those who can create disunity, instability and suspicion in our plural society,” he stressed.