Soon Koh: It’s only right that Abang Johari helms SMA
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, as the state’s chief executive, is the right person to helm Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA).
Minister of International Trade and E- Commerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said Abang Johari also holds the ministerial portfolio of Digital Economy and Communication, which is an important portfolio encompassing wide- ranging objectives in the development of Sarawak’s digital economy.
Soon Koh said this at a press conference in the Media Room of the DUN complex yesterday in response to various issues raised by members of the opposition during the tabling of the Sarawak Multimedia Authority Bill, 2017 on Wednesday.
“Chong Chieng Jen ( DAP-Kota Sentosa) is so ignorant of the Cabinet line-up. Is he not aware that the chief minister holds such an important portfolio?
“More importantly, the chief minister as the chief executive of the government will be held responsible for things done in the state while the portfolio ( ecommerce) I am holding is just a portion of it,” he added.
Brushing a side Chong’s assumptions, including lack of qualification as to why Soon Koh was not made the chairman (of SMA), he said it was only right for Abang Johari to take the chairmanship of SMA.
“He (Abang Johari) has to be responsible, answerable and accountable to the people on what he is doing.”
On the issue of the SMA board members, Soon Koh assured Wong King Wei ( DAP- Padungan) that there would be other members who are experts and well-versed in the field of digital technology and economy sitting in there.
“It is impossible for the chief minister to leave the responsibility to advisors and consultants as suggested by Padungan rep because he (Abang Johari) has to ensure proper execution.
“The SMA Bill is such an important Bill but yet the opposition are trying to politicise it.
“With the establishment of SMA, the state now has a focal point from which to develop its multimedia strategy,” he said.
Soon Koh said the Authority’s functions and roles would not contravene that of Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission( MC MC ), but complement each other instead.
“During our engagement with MCMC, it was made clear to us that they were happy for us to have an Authority with whom they can liaise directly on matters relating to communication,” he added.
Soon Koh said Sarawak was fortunate all these years to have many wise leaders who are hard to come by.
Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, he said, was the guardian of Sarawak as he has since the beginning insisted that Sarawak must govern herself.
The late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, he continued, was a person who dared to say no, faced the federal government and often used the word ‘bodoh’ (stupid).
“Abang Johari is someone who dares to dream and aim high. He knows Sarawak has a small population so we must connect to the world in order to move forward.
“He has a bold vision for the state. To progress, the state must leapfrog by way of digital economy, otherwise we will be left behind,” he said.
He thus said all must come together and rally behind the chief minister so the state and its people could march forward.