KUCHING: Three former leaders of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), namely the present Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Adenan Satem and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpung were conferred the ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ Award at the PBB Special Convention ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here, yesterday.
The awards, in the form of a replica of PBB headquarters building, were given in appreciation of their contributions and struggle, and were presented to the recipients by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg, who is also the president of the party, at the function which was attended by 5,500 party grassroots leaders from 82 PBB divisions throughout Sarawak.
Taib and Jabu were present at the event to receive the awards from Abang Johari while Datuk Amar Hajah Jamilah Anu received the award on behalf of her late husband, Adenan Satem.
Before the awards were presented, the biographies of the three leaders were also read out. Given the honour to read out the biography on Taib was Tan Sri Ahmad Urai, while Adenan’s biography by Datuk Hajah Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi, and Jabu’s biography by Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah.
Before the presentation of the awards, a video on the three leaders were also shown. At the event yesterday, the Book “Jasamu Dikenang” was also officially launched by Taib.
Abang Johari in his speech said Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib, a former president of PBB, had implemented a number of approaches for the party as well as to train the leadership and when he retired, the party had already a line-up of trained leadership.
He said Taib had contributed a lot to the development of Sarawak, and from day one when Malaysia was formed, he was a minister and gave all his strength to develop Sarawak and Malaysia.
He said when Taib became Chief Minister in 1981, he gave him (Abang Johari) the opportunity to be become DUN member and member of his cabinet.
Abang Johari said Taib was firmed in his struggle to strengthen PBB and his Politics of Development and diversified the economic base, not depending on traditional agriculture, but modern rural agriculture.
Taib, he said, also started the base for industrial development in mid 80s and improved the economy.
“In three decades, villages became towns, and Samarahan which was then quite backward, had transformed from village to a township. Mukah was also transformed from a fishing village into a town and one day, willing will become the smart city of Sarawak,” said Abang Johari.
He said the same also with Bintulu which transformed and now known throughout Malaysia.
“Before there was no Betong Division but today we have Betong Dvision that had been developed and the same with Sarikei and Kapit which became Divisions of Sarawak.
“These are what Taib has contributed, he said, adding that from the aspect of community, Taib also had his concept of ‘confluence of rivers’ which produced a community of various races and religions living in peace and harmony.
Abang Johari said during Taib’s tenure as Chief Minister, universities such as Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Teknologi Mara ( UiTM), and two foreign universities – Curtin and Swinburne – were set up in Sarawak.
He said from the aspect of social culture, Taib had also contributed a lot that could be seen today.
“He developed the rural areas by implementing the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), RECORDA and hydro power generation,” he added.
Abang Johari said PBB leadership had been able to develop Sarawak and place the state on the right track to become the most developed state in Malaysia.
“We also thank the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem for his contributions to the state and the people during his brief tenure as the Chief Minister.”
Abang Johari said Adenan made a lot of efforts to lessen the burden of the people by abolishing tolls, reducing electricity tariffs and quit rent because he loved Sarawak and its people.
“These had been done by Tok Nan for us and we will continue his legacy including fighting for the rights of Sarawak as per the Malaysia Agreement.
“We want to take back the powers that had been eroded during the years. I will continue with this struggle,” he said.
Abang Johari said the party also appreciated the contributions of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Jabu.
He said one thing that the young must emulate and learn from him was his loyalty to the party.
He said he still remembered the decision made in 1987 when Jabu said that they had to protect the party and must stand behind the Chief Minister.
Abang Johari thanked the three figures for their contributions and for placing PBB as the backbone of the state Barisan Nasional (BN).
He also mentioned the party veterans like Tan Sri Ahmad Urai, Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi and Datuk Paduka Hajah Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi.
He said these past leaders of PBB had made the party very strong today.
Abang Johari also thanked PBB members and the state BN components for having confidence in him to lead the state and continue the struggle of past leaders.
Also present were the presidents of the other components of the state BN.
