Abang Johari (fourth left), Abang Karim (second left) and others standing in front of what used to a government quarters, where he was born in 1950. Now a tennis court stands at the site.
LIMBANG: Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday retraced his roots here, visiting the site of a former government quarters at the foot of Bukit Mas where he was born in 1950.
Accompanying him were his brother and also president of Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industries Datuk Abang Karim, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohammad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Assistant Minister for Welfare and Community Wellbeing Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail who is also Bukit Kota assemblyman, Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Limbang MP Hasbi Habibolah and Limbang Resident Datu Maria Hasman.
The old quarters had long been demolished; now a tennis court stands in its place.
Abang Johari said he had a sentimental attachment to this town, where he was delivered by a village midwife, whom his mother said was called ‘Mariam’, at the quarters where they stayed.
His father Tun Abang Openg Abang Shapie, at the time, was serving as the district officer here, overseeing both the Limbang and Lawas districts. Abang Johari said his family’s fate seemed to be related to serving the people here, as he has a brother who served as Limbang police chief (OCPD) in 1970.
“It seems that our family is destined to serve the people of Limbang, and that is why Limbang is so close to my heart,” he said at the ‘Meet-the-People’ and Chinese New Year gathering at Limbang Community Hall on Monday night.
Limbang is also Abang Johari’s first official ‘Meet-the-People’ destination since his appointment as chief minister on Jan 13 this year.
He came bearing RM72.7-million worth of infrastructure projects which included Limbang Waterfront beautification (RM30 million), completion of the road to Bukit Buda (RM30 million) and elevation of Limbang pedestrian walkway (RM2.5 million) and Lawas Waterfront project (RM10.2 million).
“We are so fortunate that our CM never forgot his roots and came bringing RM72.7 million worth of development,” said Dr Abdul Rahman.
He said he would be keeping tabs on all the projects approved by Abang Johari to make sure that they would be implemented smoothly by the agencies.