Taib (fourth right) cuts the anniversary cake, witnessed by Uggah (fifth right), Minos (second right), Dr Sim (third right), Abdul Karim (right), Nancy (left) and Ragad third left. — Photo by Mohd Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud says Samarahan will always remain close to his heart as it was where he first ventured into politics in the state and learned the ropes to be a state leader.
Taib won the then Sebandi seat in Samarahan in 1981 to pave the way for him to become the chief minister.
“Samarahan is close to my heart eventhough I have retired from politics. It is where I learned to mix around with the various levels of leaders in the community. It also gave me many opportunities for me to lead the people. Thank you Samarahan folk for not forgetting me.”
He said the transformation of Samarahan from a rural district into a vibrant division over the last few decades has been tremendous.
“It is good that we get together in developing Samarahan to become an example of how rural people become town people because they are willing to learn to progress,” he said at the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council inaugural anniversary dinner at the Kota Samarahan Civic Centre last Friday.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said that the Samarahan Council has to work hard to develop to bring the division to a higher level of development.
He said the state and federal governments have approved upgrading of Samarahan’s status.
“Now the council has bigger role in giving service to the people. In continuing Samarahan’s progress, the council needs to think forward and work harder,” he said in a text speech read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Earlier, the council’s chairman Dato Peter Minos said that the council’s first year had been very trying. He said the council tried its best to serve the people despite facing many challenges like staffing and funding.
In one year, many things had happened with the upcoming completion of the Batang Sadong Bridge, the longest in Malaysia, Aiman Mall, RM4 million-medical hub among the development projects implemented there.
“Kota Samarahan is like no other: it is very fast-growing and fast-advancing in all areas and in all aspects. It is in fact the fastest growing town in Sarawak, at 6 per cent annually. At this rate, Kota Samarahan will most likely be a city by 2030. I really hope and pray so.
“I’m proud to be the chairman of the municipal council. Kota Samarahan makes you feel that you are heading to be a very prestigious town, as it has two huge universities It is indeed ‘kota ilmu’ (education city). And in a few years it will also be ‘kota kesihatan’ (health city), now having the heart centre and the coming medical hub,” he said.
Taib’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and wife; Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri were present at the dinner.