Julau MP calls for greater recognition of Sarawak’s early Chief Ministers

Composite photo of the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan, Sarawak's first Chief Minister (left), and the late Dato Sri Penghulu Tawi Sli, Sarawak's second Chief Minister (right).

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, June 10: Julau MP Datuk Larry Sng Wei Shien has called for greater recognition of Sarawak’s earliest Chief Ministers, saying their contributions should be accorded the same respect and historical acknowledgement as later State leaders.

In a Facebook post today, Sng said that as Sarawak continues to mature as a confident and self-governing region, it is important to reflect on how the State honours leaders who laid the foundations of modern Sarawak.

While noting that later Chief Ministers have rightly received recognition for their contributions, he questioned whether sufficient acknowledgement has been given to Sarawak’s first Chief Minister, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan, and the second Chief Minister, the late Dato Sri Penghulu Tawi Sli, who led the State during pivotal periods in its history.

“It is also worth noting that while later Chief Ministers have been accorded the State’s highest honour, the Satria Bintang Sarawak (Pehin Sri), our earliest Chief Ministers did not receive equivalent recognition,” he said.

Sng stressed that the observation was not intended to diminish the achievements of subsequent leaders, but rather to raise a broader question of historical balance and fairness in how Sarawak remembers those who served the State.

He further pointed out that the Dayak community remains the largest ethnic group in Sarawak and has played a significant role in the State’s development.

According to him, recognising the sacrifices and achievements of the early Dayak Chief Ministers is not merely a matter of ethnic representation, but one of ensuring that Sarawak’s history is fully and accurately reflected.

“It is about ensuring that the story of Sarawak is told in full, and that all those who helped shape our State are accorded the respect and recognition they deserve,” he said.

Sng also emphasised that history should not be viewed through the lens of who came later or who held power longer, but rather through the contributions made by each generation of leaders.

He said honouring all leaders according to their service and achievements would help strengthen a shared Sarawakian identity while ensuring that no chapter of the State’s history is forgotten. — DayakDaily