Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaking during the State Banquet at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here tonight. – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (Jan 19): Sarawak is a shining example of a united and progressive state in Malaysia, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said Sarawak has proven that its people knew that one of the key ingredients of moving forward is indeed unity.
“What I am raising is that there is one thing that needs to be learned by those in Peninsular Malaysia in terms of politics is to learn unity from Sarawak,” he said during the State Banquet at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here tonight.
Resulting from Sarawak’s unity, he opined that the state is able to focus on developing its economy and look to the future.
He said Sarawak’s focus on its bid to create green energy out of hydrogen is one of the examples that the state is way ahead in the country, thus showing the way for others.
Having said that, Anwar also wants Malaysians to know that what he wants to do firstly as Prime Minister is to ensure good governance and make sure everyone respects the rule of law.
“Do not underestimate the importance of values and ethics and good governance, after all, we are human beings, it does count to have all those when we run the country,” he said.
Commenting on Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Anwar said that he wants to settle the issue once and for all.
“I will do my best to settle the issue, although there are discussions which need to be held first on certain matters regarding the agreement,” he said.
Anwar also said that the current Malaysian government realises that the implementation of development projects for Sarawak needs to speed up.
This is why the federal government has made the decision to allow the state government to approve development projects worth RM50 million and below.
“After seeing the development of Sabah and Sarawak, and after I have seen the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak, I do not deny that there are tasks that have not been done well.
“It cannot be completed according to the established rules. That’s why we took the decision to hand over such decision to Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said he was relieved that Sarawak is not as poor as some other states in Malaysia, whereby they need the federal to help pay for the salaries of their state civil servants.