KUCHING: Sarawak sets a far-forward example for voters in the six peninsula states that are facing their respective state election at the moment, namely, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan for its political stability which is beyond question.
A columnist with Free Malaysia Today, an independent, bi-lingual news portal in Malaysia, Rosli Khan said the political stability in the state was further reinforced by its diverse society, where there was no tendency towards racial divisions and instead celebration of the rich culture, customs and heritage.
According to Rosli, Sarawak holds a unique position politically as it never had UMNO influence, which allowed the multiethnic society to flourish, without one community wanting to dominate each other.
Sarawak, under the leadership of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), he said, was open to the presence of other parties like Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Democratic Action Party (DAP), which were also multiethnic in nature.
As this laid the foundation for the Unity Government which emphasised the strength of the multiethnic fabric, Rosli noted the stark differences in PAS’ approach where the party was often seen using racial and religious issues to garner voter support.
The absence of PAS in Sarawak, he said, brought a fresh breath, promoting progress and attracting both local and international tourists, evident in the modern infrastructure being built in the state which could attract investors such as the Pan Borneo Highway and other modern infrastructure which would reduce logistic costs and improve accessibility in the state.
Following this, Kuching will have its hydrogen-powered autonomous rapid transit (ART) system on the roads, which will be tested at the Isthmus this year.
Rosli said this showed that Sarawak was highly focused on advancing its state with the available cutting-edge technologies.
Ahead of the upcoming general elections, he said the six states in Peninsular Malaysia must acknowledge and recognise Sarawak where the socio-political environment was balanced, free from extremism, hostility and instability.
Instead of moral policing the people, Rosli said the Sarawak government was focusing more on crucial issues that genuinely benefitted the people, in this case, the state’s government decision to use the English language in education.
He said this policy had greatly benefitted the people of Sarawak, with positive effects seen in graduate employability. Referring to his personal experience in hiring employees, he noted that English language proficiency was significantly higher in Sarawak compared to other states in Peninsular Malaysia.
He said investors and employers viewed the mastering of the English language positively as it would make the people more competitive and achieve growth, two important aspects for long-term investment.
Mastering the English language also nurtures a dynamic and diverse multiethnic workforce that possesses forward-thinking, high value and open mindset individuals, which was still lacking in the six peninsula states that were facing their respective state election.
