MUKAH: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday called on all community leaders to embrace the positive traits of sincerity, trustworthiness, wisdom and fairness in discharging their duty to preserve the unity and harmony in their community.
DAZZLING: Taib (in foreground) observes a visual display with (from left) Adenan, Asfia, Leo, Morshidi, Fatimah and others at the opening of a seminar for community leaders in Mukah.
Taib also called on community leaders to be disciplined and embrace positive thinking and affirmative actions in leading their people to understand and accept meaningful development and progress implemented by the government to enhance the economy and the people’s social well-being.
He said it was important for community leaders of today to be educated and knowledgeable to command respect and become role models for the people in this information and communication technology (ICT) era.
Taib was speaking as guest-of-honour at the opening ceremony of the state-level Development and Leadership Seminar for Community Leaders in Mukah division at Kingwood Resort Mukah yesterday.
Themed ‘Kepimpinan Akar Umbi Teras Pembangunan’ it was organised by the Chief Minister’s Department in collaboration with non-governmental organisation Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam).
Taib reminded community leaders to distance themselves from Politics of Shouting introduced by outsiders (opposition) to destroy the unity and harmony enjoyed by all Sarawakians from diverse ethnicity and background.
He told committee leaders, as frontline leaders, to lead members of their community to stand solidly behind Barisan Nasional (BN) for greater political stability and unity, which was conducive for development and progress.
Taib pointed that the caring BN government always gave priority to development, which must be protected and enhanced for the sake of current and future generations.
He added that Sarawakians enjoyed more than RM27,000 per capita income annually, compared to only about RM660 in the past.
He praised community leaders as custodians of ethnic tradition and customs, for their role in enhancing education.
On natural disasters, Taib said it was not correct for the people to blame the government for all natural disasters as it had no power over Mother Nature.
He called on community leaders to be aware of jobs and economic spin-offs brought about by development under Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
In his welcoming speech, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani disclosed that 284 community leaders from Mukah, Dalat, Matu and Daro attended the two-day seminar held from Oct 26-27.
Among the activities were lectures and visits to Press Metal aluminium smelting plant, Mukah Power Generation (MPG) coal-fired power plant at Matadeng, Politeknik Mukah and goat-rearing at FG Farm.
The function was also attended by State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah, Mukah MP Dato Sri Dr Muhammed Leo Michael Toyad, Special Advisor in the Chief Minister’s Office Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie, Daro assemblyman Murni Suhaili, Mukah Resident Saudi Narani, Temenggong Tioh Ali Mokhtar, heads of government departments and community leaders.