Abang Johari: Shift business model to compete with the best
SIBU: Sarawak businessmen need to shift their business model in this new era in order to survive and compete with the best in the world.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this during the ground-breaking ceremony for the renovation and extension of Sibu United Chinese Association ( UCA) headquarters in Alan Road here yesterday.
Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau Lee Ming, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King and UCA president Ngieng Ping Sing were among those present.
Abang Johari said this new era was all about technology, and noted that China had been able to completely transform its economy as it had embraced modern technology.
“Deng Xiaoping of communist China, who was very much capitalist in nature, had looked to Singapore that practised free enterprise, for inspiration.
“Deng put strong emphasis on building infrastructure. China railways then came in. Banks also
Deng Xiaoping of communist China, who was very much capitalist in nature, had looked to Singapore that practised free enterprise, for inspiration. Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
came in and all other important infrastructure came in, so much so that within 30 years, China has become the changed economy it is today,” he said.
The chief minister also spoke of a Chinese philosophy which says that businessmen must always be humble and never say they are satisfied.
“Even if you are satisfied and even if your business is good, just say it ‘is enough for the day’. If you look at the economy of the world today, China should actually be No 1 and USA No 2. But China never says it is No 1.”
On tension between China and the US over Huawei technology, he said: “America fears that China’s Huawei technology will overtake America’s Apple technology. And that has now become an issue.”
For Sarawak, Abang Johari said he seldom bothers about what others say about the state.
“Our people never quarrel. We, the Malay, Chinese, Iban, Orang Ulu and all other races live harmoniously together. We have our own strength and talent. What we need to do is just to develop our strength.”
He went on to say that when one reporter recently asked for his comment about the Semenyih byelection, he just told the reporter that he had no comment.
“We just have to improve ourselves, put our economy on track, develop our talents and if we plan properly, our economy will surely grow.”
Earlier, he advised UCA members to work harder as they play an important role in developing Sibu.
“Work together with the young entrepreneurs from Sibu who have the creative and innovative mind. You have the experience, and together, I believe they are the stepping stones to promote Sibu,” he said.