Awang Tengah (third left) presenting donations from Lakhil to representatives of mosques and surau in Lawas for Ramadan activities.
LAWAS: The state government will work with the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led federal government but will monitor developments that could impact the state, including allowance for longhouse and village chiefs and federal-funded programmes.
In stating this, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan also said there were uncertainties regarding other areas such as funds for Kelas Al-Quran dan Fardhu Ain (Kafa) programmes and the salaries of its religious teachers.
He said although Sarawak is not part of the PH federal government, many tasks and responsibilities needed to be done jointly.
“We have to accept our country is now being led by PH and this is the decision made by the people.
“Although Sarawak is currently an opposition government, we will continue to work with the PH-led government,” he said at a ceremony to present Hari Raya Aidilfitri donations to 67 mosques and surau in the district at Darul Ma’ Mur mosque yesterday.
Among those present were Limbang Resident Ir Denny Ahmad Fauzi and head of Limbang Baitulmal Fund Junidi Lamat.
Meanwhile, Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources and Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, said Sarawak will continue with the current leadership as a dignified opposition state government, adding there was nothing new about a state government being in the opposition to the federal government as it was common in developed countries.
“The federal government has the constitutional responsibility to help the rakyat, including Sarawak,” he emphasised.
He said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg would continue to focus on the interests of the people of Sarawak to claim the rights of the state as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He also said the state government would monitor the promises made by PH in its election manifesto.
On another matter, Awang Tengah, who is also the chairman of Lawas Khairat Islam Lawas (Lakhil), urged Muslims who have the means to be charitable to the poor and less fortunate.
“We want Muslims, especially during the Ramadan month, to be more charitable in alms-giving to poor people,” he said.