DATUK FADILLAH YUSOF, Minister of Works and state BN Youth leader on a site visit.
FADILLAH — I am an open person.
PETRA JAYA MP Datuk Fadillah Yusof rose through the ranks – since his election to parliament in 2004 — to become the first Sarawakian to assume the post of federal Works Minister.
After the 2008 general elections, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation. In GE13, he retained his parliamentary seat with a thumping majority and was subsequently promoted to full Minister in charge of the Works portfolio in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s new cabinet on May 16, 2013.
He was re-elected PBB Youth chief in the party election in October this year.
Despite his high position, he remains humble and approachable.
Fadillah had just led a team of top officials from his ministry on a two-day inspection tour of the Pan Borneo trunk road – in addition to making preparations for the opening on Dec 8 of the Sungai Pandaruan bridge, connecting Limbang to Temburong District in Brunei, by Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Sultan (Prime Minister) of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
thesundaypost caught up with the Works Minister for a quick chat in Kota Kinabalu before he flew back to Kuching on Dec 1.
Q: The 13th general election is over. As PBB and BN Youth leader in Sarawak, what are your plans and preparations for the next state election?
A: The AGM, BGM and TGM of the respective state BN components have been held and there are new members holding various posts in their parties. I think the first thing is to have a training programme.
Seminars or workshops can be organised for members of the component parties to get to know each other and foster esprit-de-corps. From there, various programmes can be drawn up and implemented. In fact, some of our programmes such as the Job Fair and those for charity and recreational sports will commence next year.
Q: What is your target for the Job Fair?
A: The initial response in Sibu has been very good with a turnout of over 5,000. We plan to hold the Fair in over 10 zones and the turnout will depend very much on the zones themselves. We are targetting at least a 50,000-strong presence statewide.
Q: What are you looking forward to in 2014?
A: I hope the youth will change their mindset on looking at things — not so much based on emotions but more on viewing issues rationally from all angles. This is important as it’s the youth of today who will determine the future of the state and nation. We rely on them not because they are our human capital but more importantly, because they are our future leaders.
Q: How do you want Sarawakian youth to be identified?
A: I have travelled throughout Malaysia. We are a reasonable people. This is the thing we must maintain. Sarawakians do not base their judgments on emotions. We value relationships, stability and respect for each other. That is the most important thing we should nurture in our youth. That is how we want them to be identified – respectful and responsible.
Q: How can youth associate with you as a youth leader (with a ministerial cap)?
A: I’m an open person. They are free to contact me, get in touch with me in person or through the Internet or SMS. They can raise whatever views or even criticisms. More importantly, for whatever problems we are facing, we must speak out and seek solutions through constructive suggestions and working together for the common good. Only in this way can we move forward.
Q: So is that the approach you are bringing to your ministry?
A: Yes. That’s why I bring top ministry officials to the ground so that they will understand the problems faced by the people. Policies are good but they will only benefit the people and the country if well translated at the ground level.
Once we have drafted the policies, we should get feedback from the ground, then study and analyze how the policies are being implemented. Are they achieving what they are formulated to achieve? Are they being translated into the objectives we want fulfilled? This is how we want to interact with the people. We must be open with the people.
Q. Action rather than rhetoric for Sarawak BN Youth and your ministry?
A: Yes. That’s what our Prime Minister and Chief Minister are doing all the time — walking the talk, not talking the walk.
KEEPING IN TOUCH: Fadillah with Bukit Sari Youth members at Lawas Darul Ma’mur mosque.
DOWN TO EARTH: Fadillah waiting for his flight at the Kota Kinabalu LCCT after concluding a two-day inspection tour of the Pan Borneo trunk road on Nov 29 and 30.