PETRA JAYA: The aspirations of the people of Sabah and Sarawak were given utmost importance by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when tabling the 2018 Budget, with more than RM6.8 billion allocated for development in the two states.
The allocation, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, reflects the prime minister's vision of having Sabah and Sarawak prosper with other states in Malaysia.
Addressing more than 5,000 people at the Sarawak-level “Ekspresi Negaraku” carnival here today, Zahid recalled his discussion with Najib over proposal forwarded by the Sarawak government to repair dilapidated schools in the state.
“The prime minister immediately gave his nod when I related the state government’s intention to fund repair works on dilapidated schools in the state via Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS), which will be later reimbursed by the Federal government.
“He later asked the state government to submit a working paper on DBOS’s financial plan to repair the schools.
“Najib, however, sprang a surprise when he presented the 2018 Budget on Oct 27 when he announced that the Federal government has allocated RM1 billion to repair dilapidated schools in Sarawak. Sabah also received the same amount for the same purpose.
“We are lucky because the prime minister hears the voice of the rakyat and he feel the pulse of the people not only in West Malaysia but also in Sarawak and Sabah,” said Zahid.
Present were Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg and members in the Sarawak state cabinet.
Zahid said Sarawak will undergo major changes in its state economic landscape under Zohari’s leadership and his team in the state administration.
He described the Sarawak chief minister as a sincere leader who commands great support and is able to unite people from 27 ethnic groups in the state.
“Harmony is hard to establish and even harder to sustain. That is why I want to congratulate the chief minister and Sarawak leaders for their ability to unite Sarawakians irrespective of race and religion,” he said.
At the event, Zahid also paid tribute to Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, and the late former chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem for their contributions to the development of the state.
He also called on Sarawakians to continue to back the Federal and state governments for the development of the nation and the state.
“Success is not something which falls from the sky. It can only be achieved with hard work by the government coupled by strong support from the people,” he said.