Don’t let history repeat itself — Abang Johari
BETONG: The people are warned not to allow history repeat itself by voting in a coalition led by a former leader who has nothing good to say about Sarawakians and failed to provide basic infrastructure in the state.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg gave this reminder at the opening ceremony and naming of a new mosque in Kampung Tuie, Pusa.
“He said Sarawakians are lazy, he also said Sarawakians are slow, and he also said that Sarawakians are greedy. What I know, he is the one that is lazy to come to Sarawak.
“If he is hard working we would have Pan Borneo Highway long time ago,” he said, obviuosly referring to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now leading the opposition Pakatan Harapan.
He said with the landslide victory in the 2016 state election, the state Barisan Nasional (BN) has since implemented many policies that benefit the rural populace.
“This time we are voting for a stronger federal government under (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Tun Razak) who has Sarawak close to his heart. Not like the old one,” he added.
The Chief Minister also revealed that Sarawak had been requesting for a highway from Kuching to Lawas many times during the tenure of the former prime minister but the requests were often rejected.
“Whenever we requested for Pan Borneo Highway, they would give us many excuses. When the late Tok Nan (former chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Statem) brought up the request to Najib, he approved it immediately,” he added, to a loud applause from the crowd.
Abang Johari also told the audience that the former prime minister wanted to take over Sesco from Sarawak but was told by former chief minister Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to pay RM1 billion in advance, the market price of the utility company at that time.
“We were fortunate to have (strong leaders) Pehin Sri Taib and cabinet members including myself and (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri) Alfred Jabu who told him, if you want to take SESCO pay us compensation first.
“SESCO assets at that time totalled about RM1 billion. Actually, he did not have the means to pay, so SESCO stayed with Sarawak,” he revealed.
Abang Johari also said it was during the former prime minister’s era that Sarawakians were robbed of local banks through merger, which were then swallowed by Peninsular Malaysia banks.
“He allowed only five banks to operate in Malaysia. Bank Utama was swallowed, Hock Hua Bank was swallowed, Kwong Lee Bank was swallowed, all of Sarawak banks were swallowed, and in the end we no longer have any bank,” he elaborated.
The Chief Minister made it clear that he was not badmouthing anyone but just reminding the people so that history would not be repeated.
“Kita sik mauk pisang berbuah dua kali,” he told the audience.
He pledged that he would stand up for Sarawak’s rights as long as he is the leader of the state.
“I have sent lawyers to London to check on our rights, who confirmed that we have the rights. It was confirmed in the agreement that 12 nautical miles belong to us. Nobody else can take it away from us. We must follow the rule of law,” he said.
The Chief Minister then introduced Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Betong, Robert Lawson Chuat.
He said Robert is a former assistant minister who can work with anyone, and he will form a great partnership with Saribas assemblyman Mohd Radzi Sitam, Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu and former Betong MP and now Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Earlier, he approved an allocation of almost RM100 million to uplift the living standard of the rural people in Saribas.
“With the money from the 25 per cent controlling stake in MLNG totalling RM2 billion per annum I can approve the request for road, piped water, bund and telecommunications tower requested for the benefit of villagers and longhouse dwellers in Saribas.
“RM50 million for telecommunication towers throughout Saribas, RM42 million for Tuie-Suri road, RM5.5 million to repair the bund. On top of that, RM20 million has been approved earlier for water supply works that will be completed soon,” he announced.
On the new mosque, he said after consulting Majlis Islam Sarawak, they agreed that the mosque be named Masjid ArRayyan.
A quick check revealed that ‘Rayyaan’ means well-watered, lush, succulent, pretty, sated with drink, etc. The word is commonly used as an adjective for something positive.