DARO: Sarawak’s remarkable transformation has been driven not only by government policies but also by the people’s willingness to embrace change while safeguarding unity, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the state’s progress was made possible because Sarawakians had maintained peace and political stability, enabling the government to focus on development instead of conflict.
“Earlier, (Daro assemblyman) Safiee (Ahmad) praised me for delivering well-planned and orderly development. In truth, that praise should go to the people of Sarawak as a whole. I am merely the one carrying out the work. The ideas, contributions and support all come from the people themselves.
“First, the people of Sarawak have preserved our unity. Because we live in peace, we are able to think about what needs to be done.
“If we were not peaceful and our politics were in turmoil, our time would be wasted. We would have no opportunity to think about how to improve people’s lives or fulfil what must be achieved in this era of change,” he said.
He said this during the Leaders’ Meet-the-People Programme for Daro State Constituency (N43) at Daro Festival Site here today.
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s unity had also enabled the state to respond proactively to global challenges, particularly climate change and the energy transition.
He said while many parts of the world continue to rely on fossil fuels that contribute to carbon emissions, Sarawak has taken a different path by investing in renewable energy, including hydrogen and solar power.
“Besides hydrogen, we are also using solar energy. Longhouses in Baram no longer depend on diesel generators. I replaced them several years ago. Otherwise, we would still be consuming large amounts of diesel.
“Alhamdulillah, Daro has now been connected to the state electricity grid. There is no longer any need to rely on diesel generators, which were noisy and only operated at certain hours,” he said
Abang Johari said the state’s development was ultimately made possible because the people were prepared to move forward together.
“Why have we been able to achieve all this? Because the people themselves wanted change. They preserved unity. They accepted change.
“As a result, Daro today is completely different. Electricity reaches every community. Roads connect villages. Even I can ride my motorcycle from Batang Lupar to Sibu. That is the transformation we have achieved,” he said.
