KUCHING: After 60 years of independence, Sarawak has the potential to become a high-income developed region by 2030.
Yesterday, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg advised the people to remain united and not let any racial issues undermine the efforts that the state was actively undertaking to achieve the high-income status.
Sarawak, he said, was peaceful despite the varieties of religions and races.
“We may confront differences of opinions but these should not impair relationships among the different communities.
“Alhamdullilah to this day, there has never been a major racial or religious problem that can divide the plural society in Sarawak.
“This is what we need to take care of,” he added.
Abang Johari was speaking at the opening of the Imam As-Syafi’i International Conference, held in conjunction with Sarawak’s 60 years of Independence in Malaysia.
The conference was officiated by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Themed “Sustainability of Fiqh As-Syafi’i in Driving of The Prosperity of The Ummah”, it was jointly organised by Sarawak Mufti Department and Academy of Islamic Studies of the University of Malaya.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak government, under his leadership, had put great emphasis on racial and religious unity in Sarawak without putting aside the priorities and sanctity of Islam.
He added he strongly supported the organising of such conferences so that the understanding of religion in the community could consistently be improved.
“Let us take advantage of such conferences to enhance our knowledge and understanding of practising true Islam in order to enhance progress, peace and harmony in our daily lives,” he said.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah were present at the opening ceremony while State Secretary Datuk Seri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and Sarawak Mufti Datuk Kipli Yassin were present at the conference.
