Take good care of the state, Sarawakians told

KUCHING: Political secretary to the Premier Kho Teck Wan has called for unity and urged the Sarawakians to take good care of their state.

In her speech dedicated to the late chief minister Pehin Sri Tan Sri Adenan Satem, she recalled the famous words of Tok Nan, “Jaga Sarawak Baik-Baik” (take good care of Sarawak), and noted the inclusive nature of Sarawak’s identity, where people of various ethnicities live together harmoniously.

Kho during her speech

“The second quote goes as ‘ini orang Sarawak, bisi orang Melayu, bisi orang Cina, bisi orang Dayak, bisi orang India (Bisi indicating ‘there is’ in Iban language). Duduk sama, minum sama, cari amoi pun sama.

“That we are here together. That Sarawak is united and strong because of you. Because we have never differentiated from each other. That we can do this together. And that’s his advice to all the Sarawakian.

“He serves as the spiritual guide, instilling a sense of spirit in every Sarawakian,” she said during the Malaysian Consumer Action Council’s (MTPN) Chinese New Year culture dinner and charity programme here last night (Jan 13).

Kho expresses hope that, despite Adenan’s passing seven years ago, the audience still remembers the principle of not treating everyone equally.

She emphasised that everyone remains brothers and sisters, and the responsibility to uphold unity and harmony in Sarawak lies with them.

Turning her focus to the present, Kho lauded the current Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, for his pivotal decision to form GPS in 2018, a move that significantly impacted Sarawak’s economic transformation of 7 billion

Highlighting the increase in revenue of 13.3 billion in the year 2023, she credited the achievement to the collective efforts of Sarawakians and stable governance.

“Abang Jo’s leadership has shaped Sarawak into a high-income state, as recognized by the World Bank. This accomplishment is a result of revenue engineering, resource optimization, and the stability provided by a united Sarawak,” she said.

Addressing the allocation of revenue, Kho Teck Wan detailed various initiatives, including endowment funds for newborns, Bantuan Ibu Bersalin for new mothers, IGPS for university students, and the Kenyalang Gold Card for the elderly.

She also highlighted the upcoming promise of free higher education borne by the government for eligible Sarawakians in government-owned universities in 2026.

“So this is the benefit of being a high income state. The money that the state has earned is given back to fellow Sarawakian.

“The future is there for every Sarawakian. There is another reason why the government is giving out free, higher education, for all the Sarawakian, so that we have enough manpower, so that you can contribute to Sarawak,” she concluded.

Also present during the dinner is Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai, National Consumer Action Council (MTPN) Sarawak branch president Wynson Ong Teck Ping and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng.