The year 2022 has been a historic period in more ways than one for Sarawak as it witnessed the first Sarawakian MP being appointed as one of the country’s deputy prime ministers.
The appointment was announced on Dec 2 in Kuala Lumpur, during a press conference by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Besides holding the DPM post, Fadillah is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities.
In the last federal Cabinet, Fadillah was the Senior Works Minister from August 2021 to November 2022.
Fadillah’s background
Born in a Malay village in Sibu on April 17, 1962, Fadillah is the son of the late Yusof Merais, the man who fought side by side with Rosli Dhoby in resisting Sarawak’s colonialisation by the British in 1946.
Fadillah also graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Universiti Malaya in 1986.
Fadillah is married to Ruziah Mohd Tahir and the couple has five children.
Later, he entered politics and started as a Youth Wing member in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB).
From there, in 2004 during the 10th general election (GE10), Fadillah was chosen as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to defend the Petra Jaya parliamentary seat.
Securing a majority of 12,816 votes, he won the seat and saw an increase of majority votes in the next GE11.
His winning streak continued up to the recent GE15 in which he managed to secure a 41,363-vote majority.
As for his ministerial post in the Malaysian cabinet, he was appointed in 2008 as the Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation.
He was subsequently appointed as a full minister, as the Minister of Works in 2013.
The mega project, Pan Borneo Highway was a significant project which became another challenge to Fadillah. But with his determination and experience, he handled the project which began in 2015 and in 2023, the Pan Borneo Highway project will be completed.
The success and great responsibilities held by Fadillah have shown his ability in leadership while at the same time, he continued his struggle to fight for the people’s welfare and rights through his post as senior vice president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), one of the component parties in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.
What he says as DPM
Fadillah’s appointment as Deputy Prime Minister is a recognition of GPS and the Borneo bloc, namely Sarawak and Sabah.
He said that the position is indeed a big responsibility that needs to be shouldered with integrity, sincerity and honesty for the sake of political, economic and national prosperity.
“Alhamdulillah, I am deeply grateful to Allah SWT for my appointment to the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities in the unity government, after the 15th general election, effective after the swearing-in ceremony on Dec 3, 2022.
“This position is not something to be proud of, but it is a trust of the people and the country that should be carried out as best as possible,” he said.
He also said that he would carry the trust and responsibility based on the decree of His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who wants the government to give priority, high commitment and the best service to the people for the sake of a more stable and prosperous Malaysia.
“May we, regardless of race, religion and across political beliefs be able to build a stable, advanced and prosperous Malaysia based on the Federal Constitution and Rukun Negara principles,” he added.
Fadillah also expressed his highest appreciation and thanks to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, as chairman of GPS as well as the entire party leadership, Sarawak MPs, party members and all Sarawakian for their trust towards him.
Fadillah also conveyed his congratulations to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on his appointment as the 10th Prime Minister.
“And thank you for the trust given to me to carry out this trust for the sake of the country,” he added.
Fadillah & MA63
Recently, with Anwar’s trust, Fadillah was given the task to steer and focus on the affairs of Sabah and Sarawak, especially pertaining to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He was given the task to ensure that matters related to MA63 are expedited, especially those that cause anxiety and need to be resolved immediately.
“Me and Deputy Prime Minister 1 Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were also given the task of ensuring that the economic gap between the people in the peninsula as well as Sabah and Sarawak will be reduced by the measures that will be taken to overcome the problem.
“Thank you Prime Minister for the trust given. Thank you also for listening to the voice of the people of Sarawak, especially the request voiced by the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg,” he said.
He noted that Abang Johari had previously appealed to the federal government to facilitate negotiations to restore Sarawak’s rights in MA63 which had been eroded.
“The Premier hopes that negotiations on several matters will reach positive results for the common good,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Anwar said several matters related to MA63 were still in the negotiation stage and he wanted Fadillah to examine and expedite its implementation.
There are issues in the MA63 that could be solved in one month while there are some issues related to legislation that needs more than a month to solve.
