‘No’ to peninsula-based BN parties in state – Abang Jo
KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) does not allow peninsula-based component parties to spread their wings to Sarawak as local-based component parties have their own ‘culture’.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg points out that as local-based component parties are already representing the people, there is no need for BN component parties from Peninsular Malaysia to establish their presence in the state.
“We don’t allow (BN) peninsula-based parties to come to Sarawak because we have our own culture.
“Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has been together with its other partners, including Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), for a long time for the unity of the people in Sarawak,” he spoke at the ‘Sejiwa Senada’ programme in Batu Kawah here yesterday.
Abang Johari said the coming together of SUPP and United People’s Party (UPP) indicated the willingness of the two sides to work together for the betterment of the Chinese community.
“Once you are disunited, people will take advantage. Not because they are strong, but because we are weak. If the Chinese in SUPP and UPP are united, then we come together to work with the Chinese, who have always been part of the people of Sarawak.”
Abang Johari, who is BN Sarawak chairman, also said he strongly concurred with the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem’s stand that the Chinese in Sarawak ‘are not immigrants’.
“Yes, the Chinese in Sarawak are Sarawakians. We have stayed together, we have mixed around together, we have studied together, we eat and we drink together in the same ‘kopitiam’ (coffee shop), and we even marry among one another. That has been our culture,” he added.
He stressed that this parliamentary election would be the best time for the Chinese to show that Sarawak Chinese are united – that they are ‘part and parcel’ with the government.
On other matter, the chief minister said the state government is contemplating to have its own television station called ‘Sarawak TV’ in the near future, to give young people the opportunity to pursue their talents in performing arts.
He said when it comes to entertainment, Sarawakians possess talent not just in singing, but also in performing arts and drama.
He added that ‘Sarawak TV’ would also serve as a vital tool to disseminate information concerning the state to the outside world.
“It is not too expensive to set up a TV station, but we have to wait first. Let us get the money from our oil and gas first. With the money, we will implement the important projects – build roads, connect the people with water – first.
“TV will be later. If we have extra money, we would do it,” he said.
BN candidate for Batang Lupar parliamentary constituency Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim; State Secretary Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani; Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian; and Assistant Minister of Community Well Being Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, were also present.