MUKAH: Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg says he will continue to focus on rural development in the state.
“I will continue with the policy of focusing on developing the rural areas like what had been paved by the late Tok Nan. I should say we are same Tok Nan Team because we are the same players but only with a new captain,” he said in his speech when officiating at the closing ceremony of Mukah Kaul 2017 at Taman Kala Dana here, yesterday.
He pointed out that, among others, he would proceed to negotiate with the federal government for devolution of power to provide Sarawak with more autonomy, including some of the constitutional matters that had been eroded for unknown reasons.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had been very accommodating about the matter, not only to late Tok Nan but also to him.
“For instance, the Prime Minister recently agreed for the state to have its own development bank, the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS), the taking over of the Bakun Hydro Dam by the state and on the state’s participation in the oil and gas industry in Sarawak waters and issues related to the devolution of power brought up by Tok Nan,” said Abang Johari.
On rural development, the Chief Minister said he would come up with `Out-of-the-Box’ thinking approaches of providing clean water supply and electricity to the rural areas.
“This includes special attention on the digital economy by enhancing the Internet speed to enable the people to interact not only within Sarawak or Malaysia but throughout the world. To improve the Internet access alone is not enough if it has no power or speed. And for that, I have allocated RM1 billion,” he said.
On Kaul Festival, he said he had a dream of turning Mukah into a cultural centre for Sarawak as he believed Mukah division had huge potential to become one.
“Maybe like Cannes in France which has a population of about 70,000 but it is known throughout the globe for being the arts and cultural centre, especially for film makers, with its Cannes Film Festival.
Likewise Kaul Festival, which has been successful held annually for so long already, is very unique and the only one of its kind in the state and nation. I assure that the state government will continue to support Kaul. Being the Minister of Tourism, I have been supporting this festival for quite sometimes already and will continue to do so,” he said.
After the closing ceremony, Abang Johari and wife, Datin Amar Dato Hajah Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, visited the community stalls, Mukah Kitchen and witnessed the ‘Lubak Salui Lukut’ demonstration.
Among those present were Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Minister Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Member of Parliament for Mukah Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Toyad, Assistant Minister for Workforce Development Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh, Assistant Minister for Urbanisation Datuk Haji Talib Zulpilip, Tellian State Assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo, Balingian State Assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi, Jemoreng State Assemblyman Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya and Mukah Resident Awang Johari Awang Mustapha.
