KUCHING: Sarawak will give all the necessary co-operation to the federal government in disseminating information on its development plans and programmes.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this was to ensure the people get the correct messages.
He said this when meeting communications and multimedia Deputy Minister Eddin Syazlee Shith here today.
He said thus the state government had no problem with members of the federal cabinet visiting the state.
“We can in fact, help in the logistic arrangement provided their schedules and any request are sent in advance to the State Protocol and Event Management Unit of the Chief Minister’s Office.
“Our cooperation however is only for official functions and not political programmes,” he said.
He said as far as the state government was concerned it is still friendly to the federal government in mutually beneficial policies, plans and programmes.
“Myself, for instance, I have been appointed the joint chairman of the state and federal government Action Committee to monitor the successful implementation of all federal projects in the state.
“The other chairman is federal Works Minister Baru Bian,” he said.
Meanwhile Uggah who is the chairman of the state natural disaster relief committee expressed his disappointment over the little coverage that the RTM had provided to the state anti-rabies operation.
“This is not a state political programme.
“We already have federal agencies like the National Disaster Management Committee (NADMA), Ministry of Health, Department of Veterinary Services in Putrajaya, police, military, Fire and Rescue Deoartment and the Civil Defence Force working closely with us,” he said.
He added in the many past meetings held, RTM officials had not been attending.
“This is sad as we need to communicate our strategies of dealing with the outbreak to the people.
“Soon after the Hari Raya break, we will continue with our anti-rabies operations to other parts of the state.
“So, I hope any miscommunication or misunderstanding here can be resolved,” Uggah said.
The state Corporate Communication Assistant Minister Abdullah Saidol who was present called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police to take stern and immediate action against those posting incendiary religious or racial issues in the social media.
“In Sarawak we have a stance where we do not tolerate such bigotry.
“Serious immediate action must be taken against the perpetrators who can create disunity, instability and suspicion in our plural society,” he said.
“They are just as dangerous as those suicide bombers or those going on killing spree,” Abdullah said when the society was affected, it would be very difficult to repair the damage done.
He added in this respect; any report made should not be considered as mere political play acting.
“This is very serious…it is a national security issue.
“So, we hope any report made to the police or the MCMC, there will be the immediate action taken,” he said.
