Abang Jo: PM has given assurance of cooperation
KUCHING: The Federal Government will continue to work with the Sarawak government to develop the state although it is ruled by a separate political coalition, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said this assurance was conveyed to him by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during a briefing here yesterday.
“We had the opportunity to brief the Prime Minister on our development.
“He was happy with our achievements and we will work together although we are in different political parties.
“He has indicated that the cooperation and collaboration will be further boosted between the state and federal governments,” Abang Johari said at the Kuching International Airport after sending off Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
Dr Mahathir earlier attended a closeddoor briefing on Sarawak’s development with Abang Johari and state Cabinet members at Wisma Bapa Malaysia.
The state government is led by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), an independent statebased coalition formed by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) after they quit Barisan Nasional on June 12.
GPS has said it will be friendly to the Federal Government but will not join Pakatan Harapan.
Abang Johari also said Dr Mahathir congratulated the state government on its success in developing the state.
“He offered a few suggestions on our development agenda and he was quite surprised to see the development in Kuching,” he said.
At a press conference after the briefing, Dr Mahathir said Sarawak had the potential to develop its rivers and other natural assets for further growth.
“Rivers are always an asset. Land is still big in Sarawak because the population is quite small.
“Development of land is now subject to environmental consideration. But for rivers, we can make use of them for many things such as transportation and the generation of power.
“From the briefing, there is potential for Sarawak’s growth. It all depends on how you make use of the assets you have,” he said.
On the federalstate relations, Dr Mahathir said the cooperation between Sarawak and the Federal Government had been good.
Dr Mahathir, who arrived here on Saturday for several closeddoor events, was making his first visit to the state since becoming Prime Minister a second time after GE14.
“I have not come to Sarawak for quite some time. The last time I came, it was at night so I could not see much.
“This time I arrived in the daytime and I noticed that Kuching has changed and grown bigger, which is an indication of Sarawak’s progress,” he said.