Premier: Sarawak must be financially independent, learn from anti-cession movement after WWII

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By Shikin Louis & Chris Lidom

KUCHING, Aug 4: Sarawak must be financially independent in order to develop herself and her people, taking lessons from the anti-cession movement after the Second World War (WWII).

Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said during the anti-cession movement period, one of the reasons that Sarawak had to be handed over to Britain as a Crown colony in 1946 was due to its lack of financial standing to self-rule.

“We don’t have the resources especially after war. That is a very significant and far-reaching analysis.

“If we are not strong in terms of our financial position, it will be difficult for us to provide for the people. I learnt that lesson—financial independence.

“That is why when I was given the chance to rule Sarawak, the first thing I did when I took over from the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem was to reinforce our financial position in Sarawak. Alhamdulillah we are quite financially independent now,” he said when officiating at the ‘Gabenor Pertama Sarawak Tun Openg’ (First Sarawak Governor Tun Openg) book launch at Hikmah Exchange here today.

Abang Johari further said his late father—the first Sarawak Governor, Tun Datuk Abang Openg Abang Sapiee (Tun Openg)—has also taught him the importance of education apart from economic stability.

He revealed that prior to becoming Sarawak Governor, Tun Openg who only had basic education landed a job as a clerk at the native office in Sarikei.

There, Tun Openg took night classes at St Anthony’s Primary School, pursuing Junior Cambridge education.

With such background, he was able to climb the ladder in the civil service until he became the first governor of Sarawak.

“That is why the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is giving an emphasis on education for Sarawakian children to prepare them for their future.

“To realise this, we have decided to provide free tertiary education to all Sarawakian children in Sarawak-owned universities,” he added.

Meanwhile, on economic stability, Abang Johari noted that Sarawak has been recognised as a high-income State in Malaysia by the World Bank for the past two years.

Also present were Abang Johari’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Satok assemblyman Ibrahim Baki; Tun Openg’s son and Abang Johari’s brother Dato Sri Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg; and ‘Gabenor Pertama Sarawak Tun Openg’ book author Dato Dr Jeniri Amir. — DayakDaily

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