Baru asked to not treat Sarawak as being inferior to federal government

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Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: Works Minister Baru Bian must not treat the Sarawak government as ‘being lower in status’ whenever he is here.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah points out that Malaysia practises the federal and state systems of government – both are elected by the people.

In this regard, Abdul Karim says the federal ministers and federal officials must respect any state government, even if it is governed under a political coalition that is different from the present Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led federal government.

The Sarawak minister was reacting to a statement by Baru – also Selangau MP and Ba Kelalan assemblyman – who said those in the federal civil service must serve the new government with full dedication and loyalty in accordance with the principle of democracy.

Baru made this comment when asked on the present government’s policy on civil servants who were still supporting the previous administration, during an event here last Saturday.

In this respect, Abdul Karim remarked: “As the Malay proverb goes – ‘Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung’ (roughly equivalent to ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’).

“Federal ministers and officers – upon serving or going to a certain state that is governed by a different party from that in the federal government, must respect that state government too.

“So, please YB Baru Bian – do not treat the Sarawak government as (being) lower in status (than the federal government) when you are in the state,” he asserted.

Abdul Karim also called upon those in the federal civil service to also show loyalty to Sarawak government, apart from being loyal to their ‘employer’, the federal government.”