Abang Johari (left) and Abdul Rahman jointly hold the Bandarshah Gemilang book after it was launched at the dinner. – Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Young Sarawakians are told to put into practice the advice of the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem to take good care of Sarawak and defend the state from those wanting to disrupt its peace and unity.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the iconic phrase ‘Jaga Sarawak bait bait’ (take very good care of Sarawak) by his predecessor should serve as inspiration for Sarawakians particularly at this present time when others are eyeing to control the state.
“Sarawak is like a beautiful lady, who is attracting many suitors. In Sarawak, we have our strengths such as our natural resources and our economy is managed well. Therefore we must defend the unity which strongly binds us.
“Tok Nan (Adenan) once said ‘jaga Sarawak bait bait’. So let us including the young people of Kampung Bandarshah put this advice into practice on the ground,” he said at the Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri dinner organised bu Pertubuhan Anak Seni Bandarshah Kuching last night.
Kampung Bandarshah is an urban Malay village in Kuching where Abang Johari and the late Adenan originated from.
According to Abang Johari, Bandarshah produced many outstanding individuals and deserves to be the ‘pearl’ of Sarawak.
“It is a special village because by coincidence, it has produced two chief ministers in the persons of Tok Nan and I,” he said.
As such, he commended the efforts by the association to come up with a book called Bandarshah Gemilang which recorded the history and achievements of the village and the individuals there.
He also hoped the association’s own building will be up and ready within the next two years to enable it to play more effective role.
On another matter, he said his wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang was in Kuala Lumpur for a meeting with Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Mainmunah Iskandariah to discuss an upcoming exhibition on ‘Keringkam’.
He said the Raja Permaisuri Agong seemed to like ‘Keringkam’, a traditional embroidery of Sarawak Malays, during her recent visit to Kuching.
Meanwhile, the association president Abdul Rahman Zainuddin said the village has produced many outstanding individuals in many fields.
In politics, he said the outstanding persons from Bandarshah were Adenan, Abang Johari and Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah while the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is also linked to the village.
He also said the association has organised many programmes to encourage the folk to take part in healthy activities.