Keeping our fingers crossed for the tourism bub­ble ini­tia­tive could be im­ple­mented in Sarawak soon

Recently I have shared my comments with the local media fraternity in which we hope for the tourism bub­ble ini­tia­tive could be im­ple­mented in Sarawak, fol­low­ing the success story in Langkawi. Our Min­istry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak to­gether with the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and the Sarawak Busi­ness Events (BESarawak) have many tourism pro­grammes and prod­ucts that should have been an­nounced in early March, but had to be put on the back­burner due to the Covid-19 pan­demic.

These pro­grammes and prod­ucts would be an­nounced soon, upon the re­open­ing of the ‘tourism gates. When the tourism sec­tor opens, we are expecting a lot of tourists to come into Sarawak and the ‘Langkawi Tourism Bub­ble’, which kicked off last Thurs­day, sig­ni­fied the peo­ple’s ex­cite­ment and an­tic­i­pa­tion over re­turn­ing to travel af­ter be­ing in a pro­longed lock­down.

There­fore, if the tourism bub­ble started in Langkawi for Penin­su­lar Malaysia, we also hoped that the same ini­tia­tive could be im­ple­mented in Sarawak, with Mulu and Niah be­ing amongst the po­ten­tial des­ti­na­tions. I be­lieve YB Datuk Seri Hajah Nancy Shukri, our Min­is­ter of Tourism, Arts and Cul­ture or MOTAC would con­sider im­ple­ment­ing this ini­tia­tive in Sarawak.

If this tourism bub­ble is im­ple­mented in Sarawak, I be­lieve the same stan­dard op­er­at­ing pro­ce­dures (SOP) would be ap­plied as those used in Langkawi and the success of such ini­tia­tive would be a yard­stick for the gov­ern­ment in open­ing up more tourist des­ti­na­tions na­tion­wide in the fu­ture.

Thanking our local youths for supporting our "Kembara Semarak Merdeka 2021" programme

I thanked the local youths at Asajaya constituency in Samarahan for supporting the ‘Kembara Semarak Merdeka 2021’ programme which was launched at Asajaya District Office last weekend. Their presence and show of support to the programme is important because it shows our youths do appreciate and value the meaning of the country’s independence. 

Our country's independence is very significant and it must be defended by our youthful generation who will be inheriting all of these from the nation’s leaders from the present and the past.  As this is of great significance, that is why the government has organised various programmes in conjunction with the independence month. It is aimed to create awareness and instil understanding among the people especially the youths at all strata of the society.

I have also pointed out that our young generation are very fortunate for inheriting independence that have enabled all of us to live comfortably and in peace harmony. We therefore urged all of our youths to continue playing their role in strengthening the existing unity between the state as well as country’s multiracial and multiethnic community. No matter how the situation is, our unity is crucial because it contributes to the establishment of effective administration, political stability and social peace harmony that will ensure holistic development will continue to take place for our state and country.

Thanking SOSCO for handing over benefits to family of late Saufi Aiman Yahya, our talented Sape player

Syukur alhamdlullilah the family of our late Sape player, Saufi Aiman Yahya had recently received benefits from Social Security Organisation (Socso) in a brief handing over ceremony which was held at my office in Bangunan Baitul Makmur II, Petra Jaya Kuching.

Saufi was 31 at the time of his demise and his passing was a great shock to all of us because he was still young with a bright future ahead of him in view of the popularity gained as a world class Sape player as well as the international music award won back in 2017.

He won 4 gold medals and a silver medal at the 21st World Championships of Performing Arts Awards (WCOPA) held in Long Beach, California USA. Apart from that, the late Saufi also had written a book on his experience in playing Sape for 10 years and also for winning the World Instrumentalist Award in the classic, contemporary and open categories. 

I thanked SOSCO Sarawak led by its director, Encik Philip Sangkan who invited me to witness the cheque handing over ceremony to Saufi's father, Encik Yahya Sulaiman and his wife wjo eligible to receive the claims as the late Sape player was still single at the time of his death.

Socso, upon a probe by its Perkeso Prihatin team, found the late Saufi had contributed to the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme as a Self-Employed Insured Person (OBBS) commencing on June 2 this year under the Arts Sector.

It said contributions paid under the scheme were still within the coverage period and this entitles the heirs of the Insured Person to receive Dependent Benefits under the Occupational Disaster Scheme, Employees Social Security Act 1969.

Saufi's parents as next-of-kin were eligible to receive the payment of Funeral Benefit amounting to RM2,000 and subsequently would receive the payment of monthly pension benefits for life. May Allah SWT will bless his soul. Al-fatihah

Urging the Election Commission (EC) to consider virtual voting approach

Recently I have urged the Election Commission (EC) to consider virtual voting in the coming 12th Sarawak State Election for the safety of voters and others in view of prevailing Covid-19 pandemic in our country. The casting of votes electronically could be a way for elections to be held in the future amid the uncertainty we are facing and the changes to the current system in a way would also encourage more voters to exercise their rights.

While the EC may consider this but it also needs to ensure that the virtual voting would really be effective before implementing it. To me, we are now in the digital era and surely the people already know which party they want to vote for in this coming State Election.

Maybe one day we will opt for digital (e-voting), maybe our election mode can be changed. But for now, it’s good to prolong the election period, or perhaps use MySejahtera to vote?  What matters is that the system works fine and the election results will not be tempered with.

We could consider extending the voting period to one month which had been done before in the 1970s and I had also come across some articles pointing out that the elections in the 80s were held in a prolonged manner. The last time it was done was due to logistics but this time round, maybeby  dragging on an election period can be adopted to curb the spread of Covid-19.

What’s important is ensuring that the election process and voting be carried out in a more controlled manner to curb the spread of Covid-19. Presently, our voters will have to queue at their respective polling stations and wait for their turn to cast their ballot. Thus, this may cause inconvenience to certain voters such as senior citizens.

They have to go to the polling station, queue either in the hot sun or in the rain. If scanning (e-voting) can be used, why not? I would support any new measures introduced by the EC to ensure the safety and wellbeing of voters during this pandemic.

I am fully behind it if the EC felt that a staggered election is required as a control measure to hold the next state election in a safe manner but we also need to see if Sarawak or Peninsular Malaysia has achieved herd immunity so that the virus would not spread and pose a threat to lives.

I believe our voters these days are more informed and already know who they will vote for. As such, prolonging the election period should not be an issue or a challenge to the contending parties in the next polls. It depends on the government and the EC has to decide whether the election shall be a short or a long one. But we want what is best for the people.

Giving credits and incentives to our deserving Paralympians

There's no doubt our State Government is expected to give incentives and awards of recognitions to both Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and Jong Yee Khie, the two Sarawakian Paralympians who had brought honor and glory to Malaysia in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic.

I have mentioned this because the Federal government through the national sports incentive scheme (Shakam) is also awarding certain incentives to the two deserving athletes who made us proud at the international scene.

We are very proud that five Sarawakians were among the 22 para-athletes who were sent to represent the country in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games. Bonnie and Jong have scarified a lot to be the best which resulted in their success and achievements. 

The sacrifices and achievements by our deserving athletes are often rewarded by the government. I personally think it is best to wait for the announcement from the federal side on what they will be awarded with. The State government would usually follow suit and make its announcement after that. Although the state government does not have a specific chart, based on previous experiences the incentive would be half of what is given by the federal government. However, this matter will be brought to our State cabinet first before it is announced.

Similarly, the matter on the awards of recognitions for the two athletes, it would be discussed in the State cabinet but I believe that the state government will consider awarding them with a State awards for the glory and honor they have brought to Malaysia and Sarawak.  I personally support this, but at the same time I do believe that incentive is more important as it will help the athletes for the rest of their lives.