SIBU: Senator Robert Lau said unity and teamwork are the only ways for Sarawak to succeed in improving the living standards of its people and, more importantly, to continue regaining its autonomy.
“Much has been regained. Yet there are two key areas where we have not achieved that — education and healthcare.
“It is through politics that these can be regained as that is where power and decisions are made,” he said at the SUPP Bawang Assan branch Pre-Gawai Luncheon which was officiated by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian here Sunday (May 26).
The SUPP Bawang Assan branch chairman stressed that the key factor is for the federal government to cede administrative control and allocate fair and appropriate funding to Sarawak to manage and run these two areas.
“These are crucial. The return of control of the use of language in our schools is one example. English will be used in our schools for the teaching of Maths and Science,” he said.
Lau added that another educational initiative by the Sarawak government is to offer free tertiary education to all Sarawakians in local tertiary institutions.
“The latest figures from the Education Ministry show the number of students entering tertiary education after Form 5 was 1.25 million in 2023.
“Compared to the pre-pandemic period in 2018, it was 1.34 million, and in 2019, it was 1.32 million. One of the key reasons is affordability,” he said.
Lau warned that there are those who do not want to see a strong, united, and powerful Sarawak and are eager to exploit any disunity
“Bawang Assan SUPP is about teamwork. SUPP is about teamwork. We accept and play our role in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“As a team, we contribute ideas, voice the views from our constituencies, make Sarawak a better place for all, and help build Malaysia in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 63,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang and Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot.
