CM to remain president of Saberkas, says sec-gen
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg will be retained as the president of Sarawak United National Youths Organisation (Saberkas) at its triennial general meeting (TGM) in the middle of this year.
Saberkas secretary-general, Assistant Minister for Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the organisation would still need Abang Johari’s leadership despite the latter’s recent appointment as the state’s sixth chief minister.
“So far, there are no talks of electing a new president (for Saberkas). Therefore, we are definitely giving our support to the chief minister to remain as president. This is because he has been leading Saberkas for quite some time – he is an experienced leader and we still need him to lead,” he told reporters after officiating at the ‘Program Hari Pemuafakatan’ at SK Gersik yesterday.
Dr Abdul Rahman believed that the chief minister’s post would not be a stumbling block for Abang Johari to exercise fully his responsibility as Saberkas president.
“If you look at the history of Saberkas, this is not first time that a chief minister becomes its president. It started with the first president, the late Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub (Sarawak’s third chief minister) and followed by the present head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud (fourth chief minister) – now, the baton is being passed to Datuk Amar Abang Johari,” he said, adding that the Saberkas TGM would be held after Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
Dr Abdul Rahman also said the TGM would hold elections for various posts, although he believed that the top posts would be filled without contest should there be consensus among the members.
Abang Johari was appointed Saberkas president at its 13th TGM in 2009, taking over from Taib who had helmed Saberkas for 28 years prior.
Abang Johari was sworn in as chief minister on Jan 13, following the death of the state’s fifth chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem on Jan 11.
Apart from becoming chief minister, Abang Johari is retaining his portfolios as the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as Minister of Housing and Urbanisation.
He also heads the Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment, and the new Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
On another matter, Dr Abdul Rahman – also Pantai Damai assemblyman – said the empowerment of the English language in the younger generation would be the focus at all schools under his constituency this year.
He said the Badan Permuafakatan Pendidikan Pantai Damai – an organisation established in 2015 focusing on education – would be planning programmes slated for improving the command of English among schoolchildren.
“This is to continue the legacy left by Datuk Patinggi Adenan who wanted Sarawakians to master English, which is important for us to remain competitive globally,” said Dr Abdul Rahman.
He also announced that the official opening of the newlycompleted SK Gersik would be held soon, with Abang Johari expected to officiate at the ceremony.
So far, there are no talks of electing a new president (for Saberkas). Therefore, we are definitely giving our support to the chief minister to remain as president. This is because he has been leading Saberkas for quite some time – he is an experienced leader and we still need him to lead. — Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Saberkas secretary-general, Assistant Minister for Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications)