Pehin Sri - Good ties with govt necessary

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Taib cuts the cake with FCCAS president Chai Then Sian as guests look on. — Photo by Watt Zacchaeusby Danny Wong. Posted on December 12, 2010, Sunday

SIBU: The people need to have a good relationship with the government and leaders to live in safety and enjoy continuous economic development.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said this is because a weak government, which faced constant quarrels and protests from the people, cannot guarantee a secure and comfortable life for them.
In fact the people would be cut-off from development at the global level, he said during the Federation of Chiang Chuan Associations of Sarawak (FCCAS) 20th anniversary celebration on Friday night.
Taib said the Barisan Nasional government needs two-thirds majority in the State Legislative Assembly so that all plans for the people’s benefit could be implemented smoothly.
“We are entrusted to implement matters that are good for all. A government which is weak could not guarantee a secure life for the people. Less than two-thirds majority is also not safe for the people,” he said, adding that Sarawak would emerge as the most progressive state in Malaysia if the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) is fully implemented by 2030.
For Sarawak, he said, all the fruits of development the people enjoyed thus far was the result of independence, which enabled the people to administer the state themselves.
“Hence, the more we associate with other people, the more we will able to learn for mutual benefit. The world now has changed at the global economic level.
“For instance, before our nation imported cars, radio, machineries as well as cement from European countries. But now, things have changed. We also export cement, television, machineries and even ships. When we learn to administer our government, we also train our people to be skillful,” he said.
The government, he said, under the politics of development, always planned policies that would benefit all races. “This is our way of learning together to become more prosperous. The people whether Malay, Iban, Chinese, Orang Ulu or Bidayuh must be ready to change and fit themselves with new way of life and move forward towards economic transformation of high income,” he said. Taib said the pace at global level was getting more progressive, so all races needed to learn to accept changes and new challenges.
He added that the government’s medium- and small-scale industry scheme was not only for the Bumiputera but also open to those in the Chinese community who are keen to develop their businesses.
“We have already started it three or four years back to assist them. Thus, it is the best way for the Chinese community to progress by creating good relationship with the government and its leaders. I, as the Chief Minister, am for all races.  Actually, I want to see all races in our state progress and make Sarawak prosperous,” he said.
Among those present were Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Assistant Minister of Housing and Urban Development Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office Larry Sng, Lanang member of parliament Datuk Tiong Thai King and Pelawan assemblyman Vincent Goh.