Taib
IN the late 50’s, a missionary, Rev David MacDonald, described Sarawak – which was at the crossroads – fondly this way:
“The engine throbs into life and the boat vibrates. People are still clambering up the gangplank, women carrying children and bundles of vegetables, followed by other small children sucking on ice cream.
“Highways are waterways in Sarawak. Some people ply the river in small craft, powered by outboard motors but most are content to let the public launch trundle them home from market. Bicycles, sacks of meal, oil-drums, timber, pigs, hens, ducks, edibles and passengers all seem to constitute a legitimate load….”
British and American churches designated Sarawak as A Land of Decision in the belief that the following 25 years would witness monumental changes.
Rev David MacDonald was one of the young ministers sent to Sarawak. Many other missionaries left the comfort of home to embark on a journey to the unknown and contribute to building up the people and churches in Sarawak.
Fifty years later, in an interview with The Borneo Post, Rev David MacDonald said the Vision of Land of Decision has been fulfilled but he left these words that have been etched in this writer’s mind for as long as she can remember:
“Each culture needs its own way of expressing its faith and we should seek common ground and agree with the little differences.”
The early missionaries did their work and preserved the values of Sarawakians – peace-loving, tolerant, hospitable, seeking common ground and agreement on little differences.
It was a change for the better.
Our forefathers who migrated here laboured to build up this land.
The government picked up from where they had left off in this prodigious endeavour – a transformation indeed it is.
In his 33 years of chief ministership in Sarawak, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s task has not been all smooth sailing and without criticisms and attacks in all that he did – whether in the political, economical or social sphere.
Many are asking how has Fair Land Sarawak been faring since 1981 – the year Taib took over the helm – till today when he relinquishes his post and moves on to fulfill his much anticipated appointment as Head of State.
During his stewardship, Taib has undeniably chalked up an impressive track record.
He has impeccable track records in GDP growth and 3A financial rating coupled with a policy aptly summarised in the acronym COME – for Change, Opportunity, Mobility and Equality.
He also has an excellent record in education as exemplified by his New Realty Policy which saw the setting up of six universities in the state today, including the campuses of Australian universities.
On the political front, he has turned Sarawak into a blue state. Those who sacked were Barisan Nasional and those who had been sacked were also Barisan Nasional.
He formulated a budget strategy, assigning 60 per cent of the allocated funds for development and 30 per cent for recurrent expenditure.
For the future, he has destined development up to 2030 through the development of Sarawak’s Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
Yet, amidst all the fairness and trappings of progress, there are still many intriguing questions that run through people’s mind.
Could he have fared better?
Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How noted: “How has Fair Land Sarawak been faring economics-wise since 1981 is a hard question.”
“The gulf between us and Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong which were on par with us previously, have left us far behind today. South Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Indo-China which were looking up to us back then, are now well ahead of us.
“I can safely say Fair Land Sarawak should have fared much better with better governance and a conscientious effort to benefit the masses,” See opined.
But could another leader have done a better job for this land? When Taib started, among his numerous formidable tasks was identifying 5,000 villages and longhouses as trigger points and assembling those in geographically proximity into critical masses?
Over the past 30 years, he has achieved an eight-fold rise in per capita income in terms of infrastructure development covering, among others, nearly 20,000km of roads throughout the length and breadth of Sarawak.
Not all could fathom the depth and dimension of development Taib, the master economist and planner, had laid out for the state. But, nonetheless, the momentum of development did go on unabated.
Taib’s parting words include Keep Sarawak for Sarawakians.
At a birthday bash, he did say: “But the real success symbol of this struggle can be seen by the birth of many self-made personalities in society – entrepreneurs who have been able to rise from humble beginnings to become millionaires and even billionaires.
“These self-made personalities are not confined only to the Chinese who are the pioneers of our economic development for a long time but have also spread out among the natives – Malays and Ibans – and we even have one Penan multi-millionaire.
“These are the best things that have ever happened in our society.”
Then, questions set in. Critics like opposition member See Chee How thought a fairer distribution of the wealth generated from our natural resources could be Taib’s small regret after 33 years at the helm.
Notwithstanding the above, a Sabah opposition party leader Jeffery Kittingan E4noted: “Taib is the defender of Sarawak rights. He is doing a better job than those in Sabah.”
PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing concurred: “Sarawak for Sarawakians is not only the correct thing to say, it’s what every Sarawakian political leader should say and stand by without fear.”
Even See himself acknowledged: “But I must give him credit for maintaining the racial and religious tolerance and harmony in our Fair Land. No one can dispute that he stands tall in this respect, comparing to any other chief ministers and menteri besar in the Malaysian history.”
No doubt, a lot has been said and debated about the pros and cons of Taib’s tenure as the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak. But ultimately, history will be the best judge of the legacy he leaves behind when he steps down today.
As his successor, Tan Sri Adenan Satem played soothing music on his piano, entertaining Borneo Post journalists during a recent interview and let’s hear this story:
One day, a man went to see an elderly musician and when he knocked, the latter opened the door and greeted him.
In an almost exaggerated tone, the man hailed: “Well, good morning! What’s the good news today?”
The music teacher didn’t say a word. He just went back into the room, picked up a little rubber hammer and struck a tuning fork that was hanging there.
As the note reverberated across the room, the musician said: “That is ‘A’. Now, that was also ‘A’ 5,000 years ago and will be ‘A’ 5,000 years in the future.”
Meanwhile, the soprano across the hall sang off key. The piano downstairs was out of tune. The baritone upstairs struggled with the high notes.
But the musician, striking the tuning fork again, said: “That’s ‘A’ … and that, my friend, is the good news today!”
There is no person without a flaw and no plan without a critique.
We pay tribute to the man who has kept Sarawak for Sarawakians, and outside culture of racism and bigotry from the shores of Sarawak.
Let his successor continue with this song – like the old music teacher who knew a musical key should not be changed for the sake of changing simply to suit the tone-deaf or the vocally unskilled.
Fair Land Sarawak
We will never cease to honour thee
And with our loyal sons
Defend your liberty
From your high forest hills
Down to the open sea
May freedom ever reign
Men live in unity
Proudly our flag flies high
Above our country strong and free
Long may our people live
In peace and harmony.
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