Sarawak a model of 1Malaysia: PM Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak described Sarawak as a model of the 1Malaysia concept whereby a multi-racial society live peacefully and harmoniously under the same roof.
The Prime Minister who uploaded the summary of his three-day working visit to the Land of the Hornbills that ended on Friday, in his official blog www.najibrazak.com tonight, said the attitude of the people in the state must be emulated by other states because they not only practised tolerance but also feted diversity.
"I give my commitment and assurance that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government will ensure the well-being of the society in Sarawak and the welfare of others in the country will continue to be preserved.
"I also stress that the right of worship, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, vernacular education which is close to the hearts of the people of Sarawak, will continue to be defended by the BN government," he said.
Najib said during his working visit he was briefed by the state government on the latest status of numerous matters.
He stressed that much more need to be done and worked on other than helping the needy and although the fruits of the visit saw much achieved through development in Sarawak, especially the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway, proving such programmes are on the right track.
Najib said federal and state government leaders would boost the approach of going down to the field and seeing for themselves what was needed and solving the problems at the grassroots.
"The firm cooperation is crucial in our target of prioritising achievement and people first," he said.
Najib also regarded his visit this time as very meaningful because it was his first visit to the state under newly-appointed Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Najib also took the opportunity to congratulate Abang Johari on his appointment as the new Chief Minister of Sarawak, believing the working relationship between the federal government and the state government will remain close under Abang Johari's administration.
"I and Abang Johari have a special relationship. According to history, his father and my father signed the Malaysia Agreement in 1963. Therefore, we both have a moral obligation to continue the legacy of our late fathers and ensure the aspirations under the Malaysia Agreement is maintained," he said.
Najib said at the same time the rights of Sarawak will continue to be respected and if there was any erosion to that rights, he was confident that there would be concerted efforts to correct what is wrong.
He said the federal government and the state government had agreed on 13 items related to the delegation of powers and expressed satisfaction over the appointment of the deputy public prosecutor from among the state legal officers and introduce 100 new posts in the Sarawak Immigration Department.
"Discussions will continue to be held on other matters between the federal government and the state government," he said.
He also visited Lundu and the opening of the Medan Selera Lundu which was one of former Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem's initiatives to implement rural transformation.
He said, he also approved water infrastructure improvement projects to upgrade the quality of life of the people in Lundu after being informed residents were facing water problems.
Regarding the Tanjong Datu by-election, Najib who is also BN chairman was confident that the late Adenan's wife Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu who is loved by the local community will be able to continue Adenan's efforts to transform rural areas.
The Tanjung Datu by-election is being held following the death of Adenan, who was also the fifth Chief Minister of Sarawak, due to heart complications on Jan 11, at the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan.
The by-election will be a three-cornered fight between Jamilah, Rapelson Richard Hamit from Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) Baru and Johnny Aput from Parti Reformasi Negeri (Star). — Bernama