KUCHING: Sarawak is left behind in terms of development because Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad made no significant effort to develop the state when he was prime minister.
In his speech at the “Sejiwa, Senada” carnival here today, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg did not mince his words in blaming the Langkawi candidate’s “laziness” for Sarawak’s economic stagnancy.
Although Abang Johari did not mention Dr Mahathir by name, it was clear he was taking a swipe at the latter when he referred to “someone who had been prime minister for 22 years.”
“(Dr Mahathir) had made several remarks against (the leaders and people of) Sarawak. He said we are lazy, greedy and slow.
“(But) he is the one who is lazy. He never came to Sarawak, and that is why the state is slow (in terms of development),” he said.
Present at the carnival was Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, who is also Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate for the Batang Lupar parliamentary seat; state Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; and state secretary Tan Sri Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani.
Others in attendance were state Local Government and Housing Minister Prof Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and Kho Teck Wan, who are BN’s candidates for the Stampin and Bandar Kuching Parliamentary seats, respectively.
Abang Johari was accompanied to the carnival by his wife, Datin Patinggi Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang.
The chief minister said several development initiatives, including the Pan Borneo Highway project, were introduced when Datuk Seri Najib Razak took over the country’s leadership.
“This is an actual fact. Datuk Seri Najib has done so much to propel development in Sarawak,” he said.
Abang Johari, who is also state BN chairman, pledged that he will look into more ways for Sarawak to generate income, which will be returned to the people in the form of development initiatives.
On the 14th general election (GE14), Abang Johari said he needs a strong representation from the state, including from the Chinese community, for Sarawak to reclaim its rights which have been eroded under the Malaysian Agreement 1963.
He said the state government has always recognised the status of the Chinese community and other races in Sarawak.
“As my predecessor (the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem) had repeatedly said: “(The Chinese) are not ‘pendatang’ (immigrants). They are (Sarawakians).
“Having said that, let us continue to work together to build a stronger Sarawak,” he added.