Appreciate significance of Sarawak’s formation, importance in forming M’sia, Awg Tengah to youths

SIBU (July 23): Youths must appreciate the historical significance of the formation of Sarawak and its importance in the formation of Malaysia, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

He said the date July 22, 1963 should be remembered and its significance in the formation of Sarawak should be known to ensure a high spirit of identity among Sarawakians.

“What I want to emphasise here is this historic date should be remembered by all parties, because Sarawak self-governed from the British on this day.

“Thereafter, Sarawak together with the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Singapore officially formed Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963,” he said at a townhall session held in conjunction with Sarawak Day at Dewan Sri Kenyalang, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB) in Bintulu yesterday.

According to him, in line with MA63 the demands for Sarawak’s eroded rights would continue until all the rights belonging to the state are returned.

He said this is to ensure Sarawak’s wealth can be used to further develop Sarawak towards becoming a prosperous and advanced state in the future.

“Oil and gas companies in Malaysia, especially Petronas, understand these demands where all the revenues that should be given to Sarawak can be claimed and returned to Sarawak for the overall well-being of the people in this state.”

Speaking about economic stability, Awang Tengah said the Sarawak government is indeed very committed to ensuring economic stability which must be enjoyed by all the people in the state.

“Presently, the government is prioritising the digital economy which has been seen to greatly help the local community improve their economic level over time,” he said.

Awang Tengah also emphasised that people of Sarawak should be proud to be Sarawakians, because the harmony enjoyed today is the result of the struggle of the previous generation leaders such as the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan, who was the first Chief Minister of Sarawak.

“Therefore, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak government will ensure Sarawak continues to have a stable financial level to enable more development programmes to be implemented in the state,” he said.

The townhall was attended by some 1,100 participants comprising government departments and agencies, primary and secondary school students, community leaders, and associations around Bintulu.