Awang Tengah - Don’t be spectators in progressive Sarawak

Posted on October 3, 2010, Sunday

LAWAS: Sarawakians must position themselves as catalysts and not spectators of mainstream development and changes heading towards high income economy spearheaded by Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said this while officiating at Rela Lawas Hari Raya Aidilfitri here yesterday.

He said to be catalysts the people must equip themselves and future generations with proper education and skills.
Also, a progressive Sarawak calls for the racial unity and harmony in the state to be upheld and safeguarded.
“Unity and political stability enable the government to focus on affairs of the state, while instability and disharmony will poison all the painstaking efforts and plans of the government,” he said.
He pointed out that the Politics of Development propounded by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud had ensured balanced development all over the state, including in Lawas.
He then slammed the opposition for deriding the government at every turn.
While the government has its weaknesses and is aware that there is much to do, it had always strived to be fair and ensured that everyone has a share of development and progress.
“We are only human, and I own up to weaknesses and mistakes. Maybe sometimes words are harsh, but the big picture is, what is in the best interest of the people?” he asked.
To him, different opinions should be taken in the right spirit and not be allowed to split the people.
Unity has been the strength and lesson learned from the May 13, 1969 racial riots in the peninsular.
He recalled that the tragic period showed that there was no place for racial and religious extremism in the country.
The opposition’s extreme forms of politics were manifested in the last Sibu by-elections when there were rumours that Muslims were burning bibles to create anger and hatred among Christians.