S’wak has resources, talents to transform into thriving modern state — CM
KUCHING: Sarawak possesses the resources and talent to transform into a thriving modern state, says Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Speaking at the Barisan Nasional Back Benchers Club (BNBBC) Pop Yeh Yeh Night, held at Riverside Kuching on Monday night, he said that if Lee Kwan Yew could transform Singapore, an island with no resources, into a major financial centre, Sarawak has the determination to travel the same path.
He said that the next DUN session in November will be an interesting one as they will be rolling out initiatives from his past 100 days, including the setting up of the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA).
“It’s the only one in Malaysia, and different from the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Malaysia. Ours take into account all things related to digital economy because I modeled it after Silicon Valley and countries who have moved on to the digital economy.”
He said that the debate will be on the economy and getting rural areas onboard, especially now that Telekom Malaysia (TM) has committed to increasing the backhaul speed to 4 Tbps from 2 Tbps.
This is important for the education system, where children and teachers in rural areas will have access to new knowledge through mobile elearning,
“That means, everybody has the opportunity to upgrade themselves. If this happens, our target will be made.”
The BNBBC Pop Yeh Yeh Night, held at Riverside Kuching on Monday night after the DUN sitting concluded earlier that day.
New BNBBC chairman Paulus Gumbang, who will be serving for the 2017-2021 period, hoped that members will be able to carry out the duty of helping the state government get people involved.
“With a more structured BNBBC, I am confident that we will be able to function more effectively,” said Paulus, who is also Batu Danau state assemblyman.
He added that BNBBC has people with a wide range of knowledge and experiences, who are young and not afraid to stand up to seek clarification from the opposition in the just-concluded DUN.
Among those in at Pop Yeh Yeh Night were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas; Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing; Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh; Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin; Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Corporate Affairs Assistant Minister Abdullah Saidol, Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Deputy Speaker Gerawat Gala, assistant ministers, BN assemblymen and political secretaries.