Umno withdraws support for PN government, PM Muhyiddin
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today repeated the decision of Umno Supreme Council to withdraw support for Perikatan Nasional (PN) government and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the prime minister. He said statements from an adequate number of Umno Members of Parliament (MPs) withdrawing their support for Muhyiddin as Prime […]
Bigger news on the way for Sarawakians
KUCHING: Bigger news await Sarawakians as the term ‘wilayah’ (region) marks only the first step for Sarawak in its struggle to demand for rights enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Senior Minister of Works Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said under the MA63, the Borneo states namely Sarawak and Sabah (formerly known as North Borneo) […]
Emergency not for government to hang on to power
KUCHING: The present state of emergency in the country is not used as a weapon by Perikatan Nasional (PN) to cling on to power, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Willie Mongin insisted. To him the purpose is to allow the government to battle the Covid-19 pandemic while looking after the socio-political harmony […]
Abang Johari appreciates Perikatan Nasional’s support
BARAM: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is grateful that Perikatan Nasional (PN) will fully support Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the coming state election. “If people want to help us, we welcome it. If people want to fight us, we fight back,” he said in response to a question from the media […]
PN all behind GPS in coming state election
KUCHING: The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government will fully assist Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the coming 12th state election. PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said that the PN Supreme Council in a meeting on April 3 had unanimously agreed that the coalition will mobilise its machinery at every level to ensure GPS victory. “The […]
Dr Sim takes note of Muhyiddin’s ‘wilayah’ remark
KUCHING: The Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s recent reference to Sarawak as a ‘wilayah’ (region) instead of ‘negeri’ (state) marked a significant step towards the state’s objective of achieving its constitutional status as one of the three regions of Malaysia as stated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). In taking note of this, Sarawak […]
PM says Sarawak, Sabah will get equal treatment under MA63
KUCHING: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin has given his assurance that Sabah and Sarawak will be treated fairly and equally as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). He justified his assurance by highlighting the establishment of the Special Council on MA63 to discuss in depth MA63 matters. “A meeting will be held in the middle of this month and we will get the reports from the working committee of which I will be chairing later on,” he told reporters today (April 2). He said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and other state leaders including those from Sabah would be present during the meeting. “This is why the Special Council on MA63 is important as it shows the commitment and efforts of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to help resolve some of the long-standing issues,” he said. Under the Special Council on MA63 three committees namely, Allies Working Committee, Sabah and Sarawak Security Working Committee and Socio-Economic Working Committee have been formed. The prime minister said his two-day visit to Sarawak had led him to understand better the needs of Sarawak and its people. “I understand that there are several main issues that need to be given attention, and in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12th MP), we will take into consideration especially the physical development such as the Pan Borneo Highway project and internet connectivity facilities. “This is because we feel that such facilities need to be completed earlier than the schedule set,” he said. Muhyiddin added that with the close ties between the PN and Sarawak governments, the state would be able to develop fast in a 10-year period which is the deadline set for Sarawak to become one of the most developed regions in the country. “With that, I believe Sarawak will continue to grow and advance. And I am confident that the people in Sarawak are satisfied and God willing they will render their full support to the present leadership,” he said. Earlier, the prime minister visited the new surgical day care centre at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH). He was accompanied by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. According to a media release, the new day care centre would be the first ever in Sarawak under a government hospital after the federal government approved SGH’s upgrading project by a concession company through a private financing initiative (Swiss Challenge). The project was the result of the efforts by the Ministry of Health (MoH) which signed a concession agreement with Asaljuru Weida Sdn Bhd (AVWSB) on April 28, 2017 to build the block – Meditel Block – and a multi-storey parking block costing RM351 million. It is expected to be completed in June this year after a slight delay following the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The new day care centre will house a total of 64 beds, seven surgical rooms, three endoscopy rooms and one Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) room. It is expected that an estimated 100 patients will be able to be treated a day at the new centre. This will help SGH reduce the backlog cases of treatment that can be implemented in the day care centre such as 80 percent of paediatric dentistry cases, 30 to 40 percent of paediatric surgeries, 30 to 40 percent of minor OT cases and reducing an estimated one year waiting time, and 15 to 30 percent of general surgery cases. In addition, the federal government through the MoH has agreed to provide an allocation of RM5 million to SGH for the procurement of critical medical equipment as well as an allocation of RM2 million for the procurement of irradiator equipment for the use of the Transfusion Services Department and Blood Bank in the Intensive Care Center Block. The equipment is much needed in the hospital for irradiation of blood products for patients in need to prevent Transfusion Associated Graft Versus Host Disease (TA-GVHD). Operating since 1931, SGH is the only tertiary referral centre for the entire state out of the 23 existing hospitals staewide.
Don’t doubt Perikatan Nasional, PM tells GPS
KUCHING: The Prime Minister has appealed to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) not to doubt the loyalty of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) despite its presence in Sarawak. “We are here to give and lend whatever there is to support, be it from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) or Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS). “We are already part of this PN government and we are committed to the same course that the GPS government stands for, since you are the government,” Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said when speaking at a luncheon with PN and GPS leaders at Waterfront Hotel here today (April 2). The prime minister noted that it was important for the federal and state governments to receive new mandates from the people. However, he said, elections could only be held once the state of emergency is lifted and after the nation is said to be free from the Covid-19 pandemic threat. “I do believe that Sarawak is quite a foregone conclusion now that GPS will come back stronger as a government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. I have no doubt it. “We are all politicians and we have our own think tanks; we know what the feeling on the ground is, and I think that is not really a major issue. “However, to fulfil the requirements of the Constitution, the election must be held and a new mandate from the people must be obtained. “This applies to both the federal and state governments. I hope that when the time comes, the people would appreciate what we have done and show full support to the PN and the GPS governments,” he added. In Sarawak, Bersatu has one constituency seat – Krian – which is held by Ali Biju who is the federal Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Ali is the MP for Saratok alongside state Bersatu member Willie Mongin who is the incumbent MP for Puncak Borneo. Willie is the Second Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
Room for closer GPS-PN ties
KUCHING: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s visit to Sarawak has opened up space for closer ties and cooperation between the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and the Perikatan Nasional (PN). Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Sarawak chairman Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian reiterated that PN’s presence in Sarawak is solely to assist and cooperate with the GPS state government. “Therefore, do not feel doubtful and suspicious of our presence in Sarawak. “Do believe that we will continue to support the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and help GPS as much as possible for the survival of the people of this state,” he said in a statement after attending a luncheon with PN and GPS leaders at Waterfront Hotel here today (April 2). Jaziri also expressed gratitude to Abang Johari who earlier had declared support for the PN government at the federal level as well as welcoming cooperation with PN component parties namely, Bersatu and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS). He believed that the renewed and closer cooperation between GPS and PN would drive Malaysia and Sarawak towards prosperity for all. “I am confident that with the strong support of GPS, political stability will be maintained and the administration of the country will be able to run smoothly, especially in managing the pandemic that is plaguing us at the moment,” he added.
Public sector empowerment key agenda of PN government
KUCHING: Public sector empowerment is one of the key agendas often emphasised by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said the main focus of the government was to ensure the delivery of efficient and people-centric services. “Focus has to be given to efforts to reduce bureaucratic constraints so […]
