By Tania Lam & Nazmi Suhaimi
Once again, the people have been urged to choose Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the coming election so that it could continue implementing development projects to turn the state into one of the most developed regions in the country.
In his speech during Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) mini convention in Sibu last Saturday (Oct 3), Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, spoke about what had been achieved by GPS in the past few years alone.
The PBB president and GPS chairman expressed confidence that another five-year mandate would give time to the coalition to make the state prosper and flourish further.
The following is an abridged version of his rousing speech during the assembly:
WHEN I took over from the late Tok Nan (the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem), I continued his efforts to regain our rights which were eroded. First, we took over the Bakun Dam from the federal government so that energy is in our hands.
I promised to get income from the oil and gas industry via our state sales tax (SST). We fought in court and Petronas (Petroliam Nasional Berhad) claimed exclusive right under the Petroleum Development Act (PDA). I disagreed because we have rights in the Constitution. The court sided with us, but when we sent a tax assessment, Petronas refused to pay, claiming that they did not have to. I sued them and again the court sided with us. So, Petronas paid RM2.95 billion to us; plus, the SST paid by other oil and gas companies, we received RM3.16 billion. The struggle was over.
I am negotiating some deals. Just pray, maybe in the middle of this month we will exercise our power over exploration of oil and gas.
On education, Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government told us to pay back out debt first before repairing our dilapidated rural schools. It is the responsibility of the federal government to give funds to us because it collects all the taxes. But we were asked to repay our loan first. So, I paid back RM1 billion, but the schools were not repaired. At last, under the new federal government, the dilapidated schools are being repaired.
We are also going to build international schools where bright students from poor families can study. We know only the rich can afford to send their children to international schools which use international syllabi. Yet the children of our fishermen and farmers also have the right to study in such schools.
There is a professor who said that building the schools is against the law. What does he know? The Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report says that the education system in Sabah and Sarawak must continue until the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) decides to change it. Using the national language is certainly mandatory, but we can also use English.
Technology is mainly in English, so we will build five international schools, including one here (Sibu). These are residential schools where straight-A students can be placed. Those who succeed can go on to selected international universities abroad using scholarships borne by the GPS government.
The IGC Report states that this is our right, yet the professor said we are not allowed to do it. I will leave it to Manyin (Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong) to respond.
In the central region, we have built several bridges. Batang Rajang Bridge shortens the distance between Sarikei and Tanjung Manis which is connected to Pulau Bruit by Batang Paloh Bridge. Pulau Bruit is linked to Daro by Batang Lassa Bridge, and from Daro you can go to Mukah and then Igan via the Batang Igan Bridge. Hopefully by 2024, the road and bridges would be completed.
We will build a road from Igan to Sibu. Sibu to Kapit will take only two or so hours. Kapit will be linked to Nanga Mujong via the Nanga Mujong Bridge, and Mujong will be connected to Baleh, Belaga and Bintulu.
In the lower Rajang area, most of the people are Melayu-Melanau; in Sibu most are Chinese; in Kapit most are Dayak and Iban, while Belaga has the Orang Ulu. This means that Batang Rajang will symbolise strong racial unity.
If we want to revamp our timber industry, we can do so. We can replant. Awang Tengah (Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan) has just given a warning that there are some people who cut down the trees but do not replant. Now we have the technology; the trees can be planted and cut after six years. Drones can be used to plant seeds. Because we have tropical climate with enough rain and sun, the seeds can grow by themselves.
On native customary rights (NCR) land, there are some people going against us, saying that the government did not give land to the people. The titles are processed and granted under Section 6 and Section 18. Some people took their titles but incited others not to take theirs. A certain political leader has done this. What kind of leader is that?
Previously we never had a budget of RM10 billion, so when we prepared a budget with that amount, a leader who used to be with us questioned where I got the money from. I am not dumb; I know how to read a balance sheet.
And if we need an agency to look after the coastal areas, I will look into it. With a new mandate, we will do more than just form an agency because we have a few dams — Batang Ai, Bakun, Murum and Baleh — all of which can attract tourists. We can have one authority to control all the dams which not only have water that produces electricity. We can have solar farms floating in the lakes to produce some more electricity. Thirdly, we can use the water to produce hydrogen. So, essentially, we can develop our economy by doing and running these three things at the same time. GPS, with its know-hows, want to do these in the near future — in the next five years.
When the prime minister resigned recently, the nation was void of leadership. There was an understanding that after two years, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was to be prime minister. But some rejected the idea, and in the end, they split. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned and there was not enough support (to retain the federal government).
I decided to support Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He was a deputy prime minister; he has the experience and we supported him for the sake of the people. We wanted a stable nation as we were in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last week, another person wanted to become prime minister. The tussle for power is endless. Thank God we are stable. We focus on the people and not on who becomes prime minister.
Sabah had to call for an election due to a power tussle in the midst of the pandemic. After that the number of Covid-19 cases spiked. In Sarawak today, we had three Covid-19 cases, among them returnees from Sabah. If the term of a government has four to five months left, then an election could be called. But Sabah had an election because some people were jostling for power. Thank God you have trusted me to lead the state. We are not jostling for power. God willing, I will continue to shoulder the responsibilities entrusted to me for the sake of Bumi Kenyalang.
I have only been chief minister for three years and ten months, yet our income has increased by RM3 billion a year. In five years, we will have RM15 billion. There is more to come and all will be returned to the people in the form of development as we want to be the most developed state in Malaysia by 2030. We don’t want to depend on others. If they (the federal government) don’t give us our dues, we will find ways to generate more income. This is our fight in PBB.
Gentlemen, I am sincere and I want to share with you our future. I am taking note of the motion by PBB Central Zone shared by PBB Women’s chief Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. If we govern again, we will implement the motions, especially those on education. Before our children further their studies at diploma or certificate level, they will need money. God willing, we will consider giving early education aid of between RM300 and RM1,000.
For newborns, we have the Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS) worth RM1,000 each, and we have given RM450 for three months to all mothers for their maternity leave. Lastly, we also give Death Compassionate Assistance (BIK) worth RM3,000 for funeral expenses. In Kuching we have introduced the free school bus service; we will do that in Sibu too.
I have one principle, that is, if we help others, our income will be increased as seen in the last three years. Give the mandate to GPS. I am sure that in five years’ time, our income will increase further. My advice is that I don’t know when the ‘gong’ will be sounded although the hand is already there to hit it. It is on standby. From the get go, we will defend PBB and GPS.
GPS will defend the rights of Sarawak and we have the experience to do it. There are other parties in Sarawak, old and new. But these parties, especially the new ones are collecting members who defected from other parties. We have the experience but we need to unite.
In Sarawak, we have the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) as we practise religious tolerance. We were the first to form such a body. We also led in introducing digital transformation which was imitated by others. The Covid-19 wristbands were first introduced by us; so was the mobile application, i-Alert. All made in Sarawak. We are not short on talents.
On Oct 10, we will launch a Sarawak TV station, so we will not only have RTM, TV3 and Astro Awani. It is Sarawak’s own TV station. On Oct 10, tune to Astro channel 122, TV Sarawak will be on air. Through this we can communicate with outsiders and they will see what Sarawak has in store. I have chosen Oct 10 as it is the birthday of the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
I told Tun (Abdul Taib) we will launch the first state-owned TV station in Malaysia and I told him that Bintang P Ramlee programme will be revived as RTM under Pakatan Harapan (PH) had cancelled it. He replied with a smile. Not only did PH cancel Bintang P Ramlee; they also cancelled other programmes such as the Chief Minister’s Cup debate programme.
We will showcase our arts and culture through the TV station and we will show certain areas from Upper Rajang to Lower Rajang. We are not short of talents. Who doesn’t know Dayang Nurfaizah? We have our Miss Universe Malaysia. Tomorrow (Sunday), I will be riding a motorcycle in a convoy to Kapit. I heard that they will film the journey as the scenery along the route is beautiful, similar to Cape Town in South Africa. This can attract tourists from Western countries, meaning that Upper Rajang has tourism potential. When they come, we can show them our tourist attractions.
Lastly, I repeat my appeal. Let GPS govern again. Work hard. Unite with one spirit to defend Sarawak and its people. Hidup PBB! Hidup GPS!
