PBB’s strength, unity envy of many — Abang Johari
PBB is the strongest political party in Bumi Kenyalang (Sarawak), and even those in Umno are jealous of us. Many Umno leaders have told me ‘I wish we were like you’ because of the infighting in that party. — Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minist
KUCHING: The current strength and unity in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has made it the envy of many, including Umno.
Party president and Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, in saying this, said many Umno leaders had told him of their wish that Umno could be more like PBB.
He attributed this to the collective leadership and political discipline in the party as well as efforts made by veteran members to consolidate the party, making it leadership crisis-free.
“PBB is the strongest political party in Bumi Kenyalang (Sarawak), and even those in Umno are jealous of us. Many Umno leaders have told me ‘I wish we were like you’ because of the infighting in that party.
“That’s why we say Umno cannot come to Sarawak. I hope they don’t feel slighted that we don’t let them in. What we want is for Sarawak to continue making forward strides in Malaysia,” he said at the PBB ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ special convention in Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.
Elaborating, Abang Johari, who was appointed as Sarawak’s sixth chief minister on Jan 13, said PBB has witnessed smooth transition of power with those formerly in the Youth wing now leading the party.
He cited PBB leaders like himself, Deputy Chief Minister and acting deputy president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah and another acting deputy president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan as among those who had started in the Youth wing.
“There is no go ahead (and fight) and shooting from behind (among the leaders). (The best example) is when (former chief minister and former party president) Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mamud said he wanted to step down and that Tok Nan (the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) would succeed him.
“We all supported the decision and backed Tok Nan. There was no go ahead (and fight). Over in the other party, we have seen how this has caused the persons holding the deputy prime minister’s post change many times,” he said.
Abang Johari also said PBB as the state BN backbone party would continue to lead the way in bringing development to Sarawak.
He reiterated a pledge he made last month to build at least 3,000 more telecommunication towers to improve Internet speed and penetration in Sarawak.
Taking a swipe at the federal government’s decision to distribute 1Malaysia laptop computers to rural schools in the state, he said this did not serve its purpose well since there is no Internet coverage in the area for the students to do their research and improve their knowledge.
“How can they supply 1Malaysia laptop computers to rural schools when there is no Internet coverage in those areas? How to go into digital economy?
“That’s why I pledge to increase Internet speed in Sarawak. We cannot depend on Kuala Lumpur. I do not mean to be arrogant, but we cannot wait. The advancements in IT is moving very fast, what is advanced today may be obsolete tomorrow. We don’t want only those in urban areas can go online. We want the rural folk to be able to do that also. Let PBB pave the way for Sarawak,” he said.
He also pledged to continue the struggles left by the late Adenan to get back Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, as well as to continue his policy of making English as the second official language in Sarawak.
He said the late Adenan managed to create shock waves in Malaysia in his short stint as the fifth chief minister, and pledged that PBB leadership would elevate Sarawak as Malaysia’s most developed state by 2030.
“We will continue the efforts of Tok Nan, including the taking back of Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963. We want to get back powers that have been eroded during the past years. We will get them back, and I will continue to get them back,” he said.
He also said efforts to improve the command of English among Sarawakians would continue because English is an important language for international trade and ties.
“Our level of English is still better than the others. Without good command of English language, it will be a disaster for us because the world communicates in this language.
“In Sarawak, we will continue this policy because we want to interact with the outside world,” he said.