Responsibility of all to uphold unity, Adenan reminds Sarawakians

0
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem

KUCHING: It is the task of all Sarawakians to uphold unity and ensure that the spirit of togetherness in “facing hardship to achieve happiness” is realised for greater success while forging a stronger nation.

In giving this reminder, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said a divided society – selfish and only prioritising their own race – would not bring any benefit to the state and country.

He added there was no point in bringing outside elements that would disunite the people into the state, saying Sarawakians know best and understand fully what is needed for the state to develop.

He further said the state had been able to achieve various successes due to the spirit of unity which went beyond race and religion.

“With God’s blessing, we are able to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year in peace and harmony, like all these years, in full spirit of love and brotherhood beyond religious and racial differences because we are all Sarawakians.

“Hari Raya teaches us the meaning of success in the form of patience, being helpful and the importance of cooperation from everybody throughout the past Ramadan month. To succeed, we need to be prepared to go through hardship and happiness together.

“I believe this is the way of life that we should understand deeply though I know that understanding and tolerance is something we have long practised in this peaceful state,” Adenan said in his Hari Raya Aidilfitri message.

“When Hari Raya comes, it is appropriate that we celebrate together without feeling exclusive. Inclusivity in celebrating a festive season is the secret to Sarawak’s stability and this is the front we have to protect together,” he continued.

On a different note, he said the government would focus on bridging the urban-rural economic gap following the approval of additional RM500 million by the State Legislative Assembly during its last sitting. He said the fund would be used to implement various facilities and infrastructure projects to benefit the rural communities.

Regarding the Pan Borneo Highway project, he believed it would open a new chapter in the state’s development as the project costing more than RM10 billion will connect the people and become a catalyst for economic growth along its route when it is completed in 2023.

On other developments, he said the government had taken measures to protect the interest of the people and state like the fight against illegal logging and not issuing permits for logging and big-scale palm oil plantations on state land.

Other measures, he continued, included reducing electricity tariffs for domestic and commercial usage, abolition of tolls, reducing ferry fares and absorbing GST on local authority services.

He also said the government recently deported more than 700 illegal immigrants from the Philippines to their home country and was taking steps to protect the state’s fish resources from being harvested by foreigners using licences of local fishermen.

“In the period of over one year since I became chief minister, a lot of measures had been taken in the interest and comfort of the people. I am confident that more steps can be done to help ease the burden of the people if I am given the opportunity to continue leading this state in the future.”