(Front from sixth left) Morshidi, Wong, Abang Johari, Juma’ani, Leong, Uggah, Dr Rundi, Talib and others.
SIBU: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg wants a stronger mandate given to Sarawak BN this 14th general election to boost the state’s chance of getting back its rights as well as to get a bigger share of the development cake from the federal government.
He said all BN component parties have consolidated their unity, and the BN is confident of winning the election handsomely, adding the confidence is manifested in BN’s bold move of fielding 14 new faces in this election.
“When Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) decided to field new faces, the incumbents willingly let go. No problem at all and PBB has six new faces.
“Other parties, the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) for example, are also fielding new faces.
“Thank God that SUPP and United People’s Party (UPP) have already made peace, and Dato Andrew Wong will contest the Sibu seat under SUPP ticket.
“They did all this for the future of Sarawak; they decided to stay united to create a stronger voice for Sarawak,” he said of SUPP and UPP.
The Chief Minister was speaking yesterday at the launching of the state-level Development and Leadership Seminar for Community Leaders at Kingwood Hotel here.
About 1,700 community leaders from Sibu, Mukah and Kapit are attending the seminar.
According to Abang Johari, in his meeting with BN candidates yesterday morning, he could see that the candidates had high confidence in winning the battle.
“We need to find a way on how to walk together to ensure that this state will continue to develop and the people will enjoy the fruits of development,” he pointed out.
He said he had taken it as his duty and aim to continue with the effort of his predecessor, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem in making Sarawak greater.
“When he passed away, the trust was given to me to be the captain of Tok Nan’s team. During the last state election, BN won 72 seats out of 82 seats under Tok Nan’s team, so this is still his team and I am the new captain and I will continue his effort in developing the state,” he reiterated.
He said this is why he is fighting for the rights of Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Abang Johari also mentioned a number of programmes and development projects implemented or being implemented under his watch which include the implementation of the state digital economic policy to boost the economy of Sarawak to a higher level.
He also said he had set up the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS), introduced Sarawak Pay, implemented the state Water Grid project, adopted the fertigation system to modernise agriculture, purchased cargo plane to facilitate transportation of agricultural products from the hinterland and so forth.
He also set up Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) as part of the efforts to get back Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963. Abang Johari also mentioned projects implemented to bring greater development to the rural areas.
“All of these cost a lot of money, but for the sake of Sarawak and for the sake of the people of Sarawak, we will do it,” he said.
He, however, said the state government needed more money for more projects and that was why all Sarawakians needed to stay united for a stronger and louder voice at the federal government.
“If we are strong and we have a loud and stronger voice, people will listen to us. They will respect us. If we are divided, who will listen to us? That’s why we must be united.
“It is my desire to see Sarawak become a developed state just like other developed nations,” he enthused.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said Abang Johari is the kind of leader that Sarawak needs.
He said since becoming the chief minister, Abang Johari had approved RM2.7 billion worth of projects to transform Sarawak, especially the rural areas.
Thus, he urged all Sarawakians to give Abang Johari full support in this GE14.
“We want to win all 31 seats and if we can win 31 seats, you will make our chief minister strong enough to get back the rights of all Sarawakians,” he said.
Among those present at the event were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and wife Datin Sri Pauline Leong, Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani.