KUCH ING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is a platform for Sarawak-based parties to cooperate, find ways and directions to develop the state better, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said yesterday. After its registration, he said GPS could now come up with its own Sarawak-centric policies. “ I am continuing (former chief minister) Adenan’s work to get back our rights that had been eroded,” he said when officiating Fiesta Satok 2018 at Tebingan Sungai Kampung Bintangor Kecil here yesterday.
“Alhamdullilah, our state is peaceful and from the aspects of funds, we don’t have to depend so much on the federal government for the RM60 millions needed for the development of this area because I have been able to find ways to increase the state’s income through the sale tax on oil and gas that we produce. “With this sale tax, the state income increases by nearly 50%, about RM3.5 billion. So with this, we develop our state,” explained Johari.
The chief minister said when he was in Miri the night before, the people there were also requesting for development. “Alhamdullilah, we have the fund and we don’t depend 100% on Kuala Lumpur.
We can be independent. Dr Tun Mahathir told us not to use a walking stick. “Now Sarawak is not using a walking stick anymore. We are walking on our own, ” said Abang Johari. He called upon the people in the area to give their full cooperation. “Sometime when there are big projects, there is a lot of inconveniences. So I call upon the cooperation of everyone within these 24 months. “After everything is completed, all will be beautiful.
The development and cooperation from the people will benefit us,” he said. According to the chief minister, BK (Bintingaor Kecil) Square will be an attraction to locals and tourists. He also said when the Kuching City Floating Mosque was completed in February next year, people could walk from the mosque to Kampung Bintangor.
Also present at the event were Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusoff, Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Mayor Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai and deputy PBB No.8 Satok head Ibrahim and Fiesta Satok 2018 organising chairman Ahmad Zainuddin.
