Don’t doubt Perikatan Nasional, PM tells GPS

2 April 2021

KUCHING: The Prime Minister has appealed to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) not to doubt the loyalty of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) despite its presence in Sarawak. “We are here to give and lend whatever there is to support, be it from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) or Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS). “We are already part of this PN government and we are committed to the same course that the GPS government stands for, since you are the government,” Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said when speaking at a luncheon with PN and GPS leaders at Waterfront Hotel here today (April 2). The prime minister noted that it was important for the federal and state governments to receive new mandates from the people. However, he said, elections could only be held once the state of emergency is lifted and after the nation is said to be free from the Covid-19 pandemic threat. “I do believe that Sarawak is quite a foregone conclusion now that GPS will come back stronger as a government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. I have no doubt it. “We are all politicians and we have our own think tanks; we know what the feeling on the ground is, and I think that is not really a major issue. “However, to fulfil the requirements of the Constitution, the election must be held and a new mandate from the people must be obtained. “This applies to both the federal and state governments. I hope that when the time comes, the people would appreciate what we have done and show full support to the PN and the GPS governments,” he added. In Sarawak, Bersatu has one constituency seat – Krian – which is held by Ali Biju who is the federal Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Ali is the MP for Saratok alongside state Bersatu member Willie Mongin who is the incumbent MP for Puncak Borneo. Willie is the Second Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.

Room for closer GPS-PN ties

2 April 2021

KUCHING: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s visit to Sarawak has opened up space for closer ties and cooperation between the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and the Perikatan Nasional (PN). Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Sarawak chairman Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian reiterated that PN’s presence in Sarawak is solely to assist and cooperate with the GPS state government. “Therefore, do not feel doubtful and suspicious of our presence in Sarawak. “Do believe that we will continue to support the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and help GPS as much as possible for the survival of the people of this state,” he said in a statement after attending a luncheon with PN and GPS leaders at Waterfront Hotel here today (April 2). Jaziri also expressed gratitude to Abang Johari who earlier had declared support for the PN government at the federal level as well as welcoming cooperation with PN component parties namely, Bersatu and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS). He believed that the renewed and closer cooperation between GPS and PN would drive Malaysia and Sarawak towards prosperity for all. “I am confident that with the strong support of GPS, political stability will be maintained and the administration of the country will be able to run smoothly, especially in managing the pandemic that is plaguing us at the moment,” he added.

PM’s visit catches Medan Niaga Satok traders by surprise

2 April 2021

KUCHING: Traders at Medan Niaga Satok here had a pleasant surprise when the country’s No. 1 politician Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman came a-calling today (April 2). One of the famous spots in the city, the market is an ideal platform for farmers, ranchers and fishermen to sell their products. This is one of the go-to places for city dwellers to get their daily needs and for domestic and foreign tourists to purchase some of the unique products of Sarawak. During his 40-minute visit, the prime minister had the opportunity to interact with the traders. Muhyiddin also visited the traders at ‘Benteng’ eateries where he took a quick bite of the local kuih-muih (confectionary). Accompanying him was Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. Also present were Senior Minister of Works Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof; Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi; Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian; International Trade and Industry, Industry Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Assistant Minister Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais; Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Assistant Minister Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; and Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) Sarawak director Abdul Jaafar Lian. Medan Niaga Satok was inaugurated by Muhyiddin on Jan 28, 2013 when he was the deputy prime minister then. It is a joint venture between the Fama and the state government through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. Some 1,000 traders are operating at Medan Niaga Satok. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected there due to the implementation of the movement control order (MCO). Following this, the federal government with the support of the state government has introduced various aid programmes to assist micro enterprises and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Among the assistance are the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN), Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) and Geran Khas Prihatin (GKP). For the one-off GKP financial assistance, RM93.2 million have been channeled to 31,058 recipients in Sarawak. As of last month, RM1.8 billion have been channeled under BPN and BPR assistance for about 1.04 million recipients in the state.

Sarawak a region, not a state

1 April 2021

KUCHING: “Sarawak is not a state, it is a ‘wilayah’ (region).” This was declared by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who openly showed his recognition of Sarawak as one of the three regions of Malaysia as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). He said the Perikatan Nasional (PN)

Road closure to fix sinkhole

1 April 2021

KUCHING: The Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) is temporarily closing the left lane of the road at the Datuk Temenggong Abang Kipali Abang Akip roundabout underpass heading towards Matang Baru from Kuching to fix a sinkhole there. Senior Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the state JKR would

Sarawak to pursue constitutional amendment

1 April 2021

KUCHING: Sarawak will pursue the amendment to Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution on the interpretation of the phrase ‘Federation’ which should refer to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the law should be amended since the interpretation of the phrase ‘Federation’

Former PBDS deputy president passed away

1 April 2021

KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) former deputy president Andrew Puro passed away at his home after a short illness today (April 1). This was confirmed by the party’s secretary general Julius Enchana. Puro, a Bidayuh from Kampung Simboh in Jalan Puncak Borneo was a UK law graduate and a

Ramadan bazaars — the pros and cons of opening

30 March 2021

KUCHING: The public don’t really know what to make of Ramadan bazaars this year, what with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and all the rest of it. To open or not to open is the crux of the matter. To open means risking spreading Covid-19 and possibly creating some more clusters

Register to speed up vaccine jabs

30 March 2021

LAWAS: Sarawakians at various levels need to register for Covid-19 vaccination through the MySejahtera app so that the vaccine can be distributed as soon as possible. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the vaccination programme was very important to break the Covid-19 chain in the state.

Dept, Plaza Merdeka to encourage tenants to register as KGC partners

30 March 2021

KUCHING: The Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) will work with Plaza Merdeka Holdings Sdn Bhd to encourage the latter’s tenants to become strategic partners of the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC). “Follow up with the Plaza Merdeka team to discuss further on the matter. That is your next job,” Welfare, Community

Author: Nur Ashikin Louis