State to practise modified version of what Taib introduced during his tenure as chief minister
The audience getting a closer look at the army’s armoured personnel carriers during the parade held in celebration of the Head of State’s 79th birthday. — Photo by Othman Ishak.
SIBU: The state will continue to practise the politics of development introduced by Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud when he was chief minister, but in a modified form.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said this was necessary to further transform the state as roads, electricity, piped water supply, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure, besides the much-needed social services.
“Sarawak has been transformed to what it is today largely due to the efforts of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud all these many years.
“We will continue the plan and policies that he started and implemented plus modifications, but the mainstream will be the same,” he said at the Head of State’s 79th birthday celebration parade yesterday.
He said the history of Sarawak could be divided into a period of political confusion from 1963 to 1970; political stability from 1970 until 1980; and economic modernisation from 1981 when Taib became chief minister.
“And if in that period, we managed to transform this state to what it is today, it is largely due to his effort. After a service spanning nearly half a century, he deserves a rest and we leave him with this honour of being the first citizen of Sarawak because he is the first benefactor of Sarawak.
“That is the person we are celebrating today because we owe him a lot in all sectors of the economy, social, cultural, educational and all aspects of life in Sarawak,” Adenan added.
The chief minister reiterated that political stability and racial harmony remain pivotal to ensuring that development could be implemented effectively.
As such, he said the state would continue to bar the entry of religious bigots and extremists.
“We will not entertain these people to come to Sarawak and pour venom among our people. That will be our consistent policy,” he stressed.
He also pointed out the importance of industrialisation to ensure that Sarawak would not be left behind.
“That is why we have SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) and Samalaju Industrial Park,” he said, adding the need to produce value-added products.
Hence he invited foreign companies to work with local ones to industrialise the state.
“If the whole country could be developed by 2020, we expect Sarawak to be fully developed by 2030. It doesn’t matter if we are 10 years behind so long as we catch up.
“So, these are our requirements, these are the efforts and policies that we will follow especially rural development,” Adenan said.
He also assured that the state would continue to insist on having full autonomy.
“That is why we are talking with the federal government now for them to surrender back some of powers that they have taken from us all these many years.
“We want it back; we want our full autonomy. We want the Malaysia Agreement to be honoured in all aspects,” he said.