Taib (centre) presents the Best Outstanding Award, which includes RM1,000 incentive, to former SMK Lake student Elissa Cresenta Justin who achieved 9As, including A+ in all Science subjects Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Additional Mathematics, in last year’s SPM. Looking on is Henry (left).
BAU: Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has vowed to continue guiding Sarawak even though he is no longer involved in politics.
“As the TYT (Head of State), I will continue to strive, even though I am out of politics, to try to guide this state so that we stay united. This is so that multi-racial society in the state can continue to contribute to the development of Sarawak.
“I believe that by 2030, we will be probably very near if not achieving richest state in Malaysia. That is our future which we can achieve through cooperation,” he said when speaking at the Gawai Bung Konis open house in Singai near here yesterday.
Taib, who stepped down as chief minister on Feb 28 this year, said he believed his successor Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem understood the need for multi-racial harmony in the state to continue in order for the state to continue moving forward.
He added Adenan, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu and the rest of the team in the state government know Sarawak’s future
strongly depends on unity and the close cooperation of all races in order to achieve what had been planned, including Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and the vision to make Sarawak the richest state in Malaysia.
He also said Sarawak is not short of capable people as future leaders in the state. In his former party Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), he said there were some new faces including two to three whom he described as having ‘good brains’.
Meanwhile, the open house yesterday was hosted by successful Bidayuh entrepreneur Henry Harry Jinep, the proprietor of Putra Sentosa Enterprise. Also present were Mas Gading MP Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president Datu Ik Pahon Joyik and various leaders from the Bidayuh community.
Taib paid tribute to the Bidayuh community, saying the Bidayuhs had progressed by leaps and bounds in the last 50 years and many of them are found in key positions in the government and corporate sector.
“I feel the Bidayuhs had shown the way. They were backward 50 years before, but now you find them in any type of occupation. Anywhere you go, the Bidayuhs are there participating,” he said, singling out Henry as a role model for the Bidayuh community.
Earlier, Henry in his speech regarded Taib as a friend to the Bidayuh community due to his many contributions to them since Independence through various posts in the government.
He said the Bidayuh community particularly in Singai felt honoured that Taib had visited the open house in Bung Konis twice, including once when he was the chief minister.
Yesterday’s function also saw the presentation of Bung Konis incentives to 33 students for achieving excellent results in UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM examinations.
Taib also launched the 1Singai Tondong, a property development by Putra Sentosa Development Sdn Bhd and John Jinep
Properties Sdn Bhd on 12 acres of land at Tondong-Bau-Batu Kawa road.