BINTULU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas calls Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s claim that Sarawak is going to be bankrupt in three years’ time as a “Taju Remaong”.
In Iban folklore, “Taju Remaong” is the much dreaded snare of the very powerful mythical leopard king.
Uggah said this when addressing a Gawai Ngiling Tikai gathering at Rh Miekle Ding in Seputan in Sebaoh last Saturday night.
“The Remaong king would bait his trap with goodies laid in jungle paths. Those who came across them and picked them up or ate them… they are doomed,” he said.
“It is the same in Guan Eng’s case where he lay the bait with his claim. If Sarawakians were to believe him, we would be doomed.”
Lim’s claim, he added, was meant to get the people to oppose the state Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government.
“It is the agenda in Sarawak for this to happen in order for the PH government to take over the state in the next state election.
“If this happens, Sarawak will be rendered powerless in defending its rights and privileges and wealth as enshrined in the Constitution,” warned Uggah.
For these reasons, he urged the people to continue rallying strongly behind the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, especially for the benefits of the future generation.
Uggah added Lim’s remarks reeked of his ignorance of the state government’s prudent management of its resources including finance.
“If Sarawakians must know, Guan Eng had actually cancelled a number of very important development projects for the state, including at least three major bridges,” said the deputy chief minister.
He added Abang Johari had, in fact, used his own ways to generate extra income for the state and was not using the state’s RM30 billion reserves wantonly, as depicted.
“He has, for instance, imposed five per cent sale tax on petroleum and oil products from the state and this has generated a substantial income.
“PH had promised a lot of things to Sarawakians in its election manifesto. Where is the 20 per cent royalty payment from our oil and gas the 50 per cent return on taxes collected?
“The latest claim that the PH government will save Sarawak from bankruptcy is yet another sweet promise,” he pointed out.
Uggah also debunked another claim made by local DAP leaders that if not for the PH government, outstanding Dayaks would continue to be sidelined in top management posts, particularly in government linked corporations and companies.
Uggah said Dayak intellectuals had also been appropriately recognised in the government and its GLCs, citing the appointment of Datuk Jaul Samion who is now the acting State Secretary and Mohamad Syazwan Abdullah @ Laga Jenggi as MLNG chief executive officer, to name a few.
“For the record, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi was also the first Dayak to lead Bintulu Port Authority and not Dr Anthony Brian from the state DAP as the party would like all Dayaks to believe,” he said.
Further, Uggah said Dayak children could go higher in their career with excellent education and qualification and with the right commitment and attitude.
He commended Tr Miekle for having 104 graduates now in his 28-door longhouse including Dr Rundi himself.
He also pointed out that the state government is now in the process of its rural transformation.
“We are doing this through modern hi tech agriculture for its superior results and productivity. The old subsistence farming is not an option if we want greater harvest and income.
“We must go into commercial agriculture and our current and future agriculture industry is moving into this direction,” he stressed.
Uggah thanked Petronas for honouring the Dayaks by helping to organise and participating in the Gawai celebration.
This, he said, would go a long way in maintaining or even strengthening the existing racial unity, harmony and understanding.
The gathering, which attracted more than 1,000 people, was jointly organised by Asean Bintulu Fertilizer Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia LNG Group of Companies, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, Sarawak Gas and Petronas Group of Procument Sarawak.
