Good words for Sarawak Government by our Prime Minister of Malaysia

The Right Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar ahad good words for our government as Sarawak is now ahead in many areas compared to other states in the federation.

According to him, it was mentioned in the Parliament recently that, in terms of electric vehicles, Sarawak is moving ahead. In terms of hydrogen and gas, Sarawak also ahead of the rest. Datuk Seri Anwar had also thanked our Premier, the Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg for his leadership and his team who should be the example on managing and bringing Sarawak to the highest level. He had mentioned that due to weak management, it will burden not only the federal government but also the people whose welfare and well being are most important.

Datuk Seri Anwar had mentioned all of the praises during his speech at the official launching of Raia Hotel and Convention Centre in Kuching recently in which he had also touched on how he had rebuked several opposition members of parliament for not understanding the history of Malaysia’s formation by questioning the approval of big allocations for Sabah and Sarawak.

He said they questioned approvals such as the Pan Borneo Highway mega project, which they claimed was a lot for the two Borneo states. According to him, such situation brings an unhealthy polemic of pitting Sabah and Sarawak against the peninsula. He strongly reprimand such attitude that does not understand the history of the founding of Malaysia and the history of MA63 (the Malaysia Agreement 1963).

The Prime Minister said there are commitments which the federal government must make to Sabah and Sarawak which include their position – they became independent later (than the rest of Malaya) so there are areas where they are a bit behind in terms of infrastructure. He mentioned that it is our responsibility as a team – a union – to take appropriate actions.

Datuk Seri Anwar also said that justice is about putting things rightfully in their place, and the two states have more needs to catch up with the peninsula. Because of this, he had tasked Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof to lead the Cabinet committee to immediately implement the approval of sufficient allocations to complete the Pan Borneo Highway. “For me, it is not something like favouring Sabah and Sarawak but for me, this is fulfilling trust and doing justice,” he stressed.

Sarawak gets the nod to establish its own boutique airline company

We got the best news of the day after our Right Honourable Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has agreed in principle to Sarawak in establishing its own boutique airline company.

He had mentioned this during the official opening of Raia Hotel and Convention Centre Kuching which was held on April 17. It was mentioned during his speech and as the response to a request made by our Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on that matter. According to Datuk Seri Anwar, the said the matter will be brought up at the Federal Cabinet's meeting on April 18 for further discussion. Our esteemed Prime Minister had given his assurance that the Federal Government will give an official answer with himself as the chairman of the Cabinet to provide the way. "Insyallah, the other friends in the Cabinet will also agree,” he said to the thunderous applause by the audience who were there to witness the Prime Minister's speech.

According to the Prime Minister, the matter was also previously brought up at the last Federal Cabinet meeting, and was also mentioned at a recent dialogue with University Teknologi Mara (UiTM) students following their grouses of high fares for air travel from the peninsula to Sabah and Sarawak.

He expressed high hopes that the Sarawak government, with its good performance, can manage its own boutique airline but stressed that past experiences showed that running an airline company is not easy. But it has been proven that airfares to Sabah and Sarawak from the peninsula are high, and that Federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke has conducted several negotiations with existing airline companies to reduce the cost in the spirit of unity and spirit of ties between the state and federal governments.

Earlier, our Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Open had said Sarawak hopes to be able to stabilise the price of airfares with the establishment of its own boutique airline. With many tourism attractions to offer, Sarawak had relied heavily on airlines to bring in visitors here.

He had also mentioned the price of airfares to Kuching is too expensive where an air ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching is almost similar to a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong. This is why the Sarawak government is ready to establish its own boutique airline and we held high hopes for our Prime Minister to approve our request.

Sarawak government is ever ready to invest in a small airline company to start an airline that would serve as a facility to bring in more tourists to Sarawak. The proposed state-owned boutique airline would not be profit-motivated as it is geared towards facilitating tourist arrivals into the state. The boutique airline would be owned by Sarawak with its own set up model  without following other airlines such as Malaysia Airlines or AirAsia.

Official launching of Raia Hotel & Convention Centre by our esteemed Prime Minister

We attended the official launching of Raia Hotel and Convention Centre in Kuching City which was graced by the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who came for a brief working visit here on April17. During the function Prime Minister was accompanied by our Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg and local dignitaries including local cabinet ministers. 

The guest of honour also attended the break of fast together with several of our Asnaf folks and children from the local orphanages. We performed the Maghrib, Isyak and Terawih prayers together before the Prime Minister left for Kuala Lumpur the same evening. It was a delightful function when Datuk Seri Anwar had mentioned several important matters in his officiating speech which include the proposed establishment of Sarawak boutique airline company.

Attending the "Majlis Santunan Kasih Ramadan" at Masjid Darul Hana in Kampung SEbandi Matang, Asajaya

I was recently invited to attend the “Majlis Santunan Kasih Ramadan” which was held at Masjid Darul Hana in Kampung Sebandi Matang Asajaya, Samarahan. The function was organised by the Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and the Deputy Minister, YB Dato Hajah Rubiah Haji Wang was the guest of honour for the event. 

During the function, we handed over donations to children from less fortunate families in Asajaya including those studying at the local madrasah tahfiz. We also had the break of fast together and performed the Maghrib and Isyak prayers before proceeding to the Terawih prayers.

Over 5,000 of our folks joined "Juh Berambeh Sungkei" programme at Padang Merdeka, Kuching

The response towards the inaugural "Juh Berambeh Sungkei" programme held at Padang Merdeka in Kuching was overwhelming with over 5,000 of our city folks had turned up to support the event. It is basically having our break of fast together in the outdoor and it turned up to be a crowd puller among city folks who brought along their family members and friends.

I commended the organisers for the event which include Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED), Kuching Resident Office, the Satok branch of Sarawak United National Youth Organization (SABERKAS) and Persatuan Marhabbah Kuching. There were suggestions from our city folks for similar events to be held in the near future and I certainly support that.

  

Joining our local folks in Asajaya for break of fast and prayers at Masjid An-Najah

I had the opportunity to perform Maghrib and Isyak prayers with our local folks at Masjid An-Najah in Asajaya recently. We also performed the Terawih prayers together and had moreh  which is the local term for late supper later after that. Alhamdullilah the congregation were encouraging and had consisted of the local youths too. It had shown how much they are observing the holy month of Ramadan and I thanked the Asajaya District Office and Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak (JAIS) for having jointly organised the event which was carried out in conjunction with the distribution of "Bubur Lambuk" by the Sarawak branch of Malaysia Anti-Drugs Organization (PEMADAM).