My personal comments on Palestinian refugees issue

Matters concerning the acceptance of Palestinian refugees must first be decided by Malaysia's Federal Government and I had commented on this issue raised by activists and non-governmental organizations (NGO) heads who had expressed concern that radicals could enter the country if Sabah and Sarawak fail to exercise autonomy over their borders.
“There is no need to jump the gun. The federal government has yet to make a decision but there are already NGOs commenting. Who are you? Wait for the prime minister to announce the decision. Don’t jump the gun”. These were the response I have made to the local media who had requested my comments.
I have added that ministers should not be influenced by unreasonable NGO views and should instead follow existing protocols.
If the federal government has made a decision, then we can give our views. But since the federal government has not decided on this matter, there is no need to comment on what NGOs have said. Malaysia always sympathised with those who are victims of war, citing Vietnam and Bosnia-Herzegovina as examples. 

Sarawak Tourism Board enters Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia Airlines at WTM2023

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) had recently entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with national carrier, Malaysia Airlines at the sidelines of the ongoing World Tourism Mart 2023 (WTM2023) in London, United Kingdom (UK).

This is a much welcomed strategic move by both parties and I am glad to have been invited to witness the symbolic signing ceremony held recently at WTM2023, ExCEL conference and convention centre in London. It is our hope for the MoU will pave the way for both STB and Malaysia Airlines to synergise and to collaborate in key areas for mutual benefits. 

Our appreciation to our partners from Malaysia Airlines for having agreed to the signing ceremony being held in conjunction with this year's WTM London and we look forward to the next step in forging better days ahead.

Great response to Sarawak Pavillion at World Tourism Mart 2023 in London, UK

The response towards our "Sarawak Pavillion" at the ongoing World Tourism Mart 2023 (WTM2023) in London, UK was just splendid. There were a lot of visitors coming to the pavillion including from delegates of other participating countries. 

One thing for sure, the Sarawak Pavillion was one of those which was colourful decorated and had showcased an array of exhibits that caught the attention of visitors. I have been in London the past few days together with delegation members from Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and other related parties. 

The WTM2023 is being held at Excel conference and convention centre in London and it is also participated by Tourism Malaysia together 49 tourism-related organizations of Malaysia. Our nation's delegation include tour operators, hotels, resort, state tourism agencies, tourism associations, airline company, tourism-related services providers and Malaysia Health Tourism Council (MHTC).

We appreciate the organising of WTM which had long served as a vital avenue to introduce Malaysia and Sarawak's tourism attractions to meet the demand as well as interest of the UK and European markets. The event is one of the suitable platforms for international tourism industry players to meet up and to plan their future strategies on global stage. 

For the record, the UK market had played an important role in Sarawak's tourism industry resurgence with impressive forms in which from January to September this year alone, there were 18,833 visitors from the United Kingdom. The growth rate of their arrival is approximately 216.7% and as such, this segment is impressive, as compared to the same period last year when we hosted 5,944 UK visitors. We are also optimistic based on current trends, there would be around 25,110 visitor arrivals from UK coming into Sarawak for 2023.

Update on drug abuse situation and offences in Sarawak from January to October 2023

A total of 9,198 arrests for drug offences have been recorded in Sarawak from January to October 2023. I have revealed this matter based on statistics from the police’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN), majority or 6,871 of the arrests were made following urine tests while 1,853 were for possession of drugs and 474 for supplying drugs. 

In terms of value of confiscated drugs, he said it was estimated to be more than RM137 million while the assets forfeited are valued at about RM5 million. The figures mentioned might look big, partly because our population is increasing.If you compare the 9,000 arrests to the 2.8 million population in Sarawak, it is very small. 

In terms of index of those involved in drugs throughout Malaysia, Sarawak is among the third lowest (in terms of numbers). Despite Sarawak being almost as big as the Peninsula and our borders are so porous be it from sea or land our index is still very low. I have informed our media friends during the press conference after chairing the Sarawak-level Anti Drug Action Council (MTMD) meeting recently. 

Even though there had been major arrests made, the drugs involved were not for local distribution because Sarawak is being used as transit for distribution to neighbouring countries. We do not need to be so alarmed but it is good to be conscious about that. 

Being the Sarawak chapter chairman of Malaysia Drugs Prevention Association (Pemadam), I have also mentioned two areas, namely Kampung Haji Baki in Kuching and Kampung Baru in Samarahan which were identified as high-risk areas this year for drug-related activities. As such, various activities are being held to ‘greenify’ the two areas. 

These areas have achieved green status based on the set indicators achieved. However, continuous efforts are being intensified so that this green status can be maintained through the collaboration of all parties through the strategies of prevention, enforcement and treatment programmes as well as recovery. 

Among them are preventing new addicts, maintaining the recovery rate, increasing the detection of drug addicts, increasing the cooperation and involvement of agencies and communities in blocking the entry of drugs. Also present at the press conference were National AntiDrug Agency (AADK) deputy director-general (Operations) Khairul Anuar Bachok, AADK Sarawak director Hemediee Ibrahim, and Director of Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Samuel Simon.

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.