‘Together we achieve developed status’
KUCHING: Sarawakians are urged to work together to achieve developed state status which is now within reach.
Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said: “The development has not stopped. It’s going to change character, but it will bring greater benefit of a different kind to our people. There will more active young and educated population.
“And a greater fusion of interests of Bumiputeras together with the Chinese in welcoming a different Sarawak will emerge because we are going to achieve the structure of developed nation.
“This is within our reach now. Let’s work together to achieve it,” he said when officiating at the PBB’s ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ special convention at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.
Taib, who is former chief minister and former PBB president, was there for the launch of the book ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ and to receive a special award in recognition of his contributions to PBB.
Speaking about his involvement in PBB before his retirement from active politics in 2014, Taib said he had spent about 60 years in the party since its inception as Parti Barjasa and Parti Bumiputera before the merger with Pesaka to form PBB.
He said he had enjoyed good working relationship in the state BN which saw all racial groups in Sarawak working together towards mutual aim. He also said a lot of challenges in the party were overcome with support from PBB members.
On his hope for the future, he said he wanted Sarawak to move together with the rest of Malaysia, and if possible a bit more than the others.
He said he was proud to see development taking place in rural areas, particularly in places like upper Baram and upper Kapit to prevent rural-urban migration in big numbers.
“The more educated Ibans and Orang Ulus know this very well.
The development has not stopped. It’s going to change character, but it will bring greater benefit of a different kind to our people. There will be a more active young and educated population. — Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Head of State
The condition must be improved to induce many of the educated people to stay put. Employment is increasing not only in numbers but in quality of jobs. Therefore, the job of the future for PBB is to keep on struggling for greater education, particularly technical education of our people,” he said.
Taib acknowledged the contributions of those who had served under him while he was chief minister, including former long-serving deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, whom he fondly called ‘menyadi aku’ (my brother).