Adenan Satem's speech in the
Sarawak State Legislative today, his first as Chief Minister.
May 15, 2014
Datuk Amar Speaker,
I would like first of all to
put on record in this august House our congratulations to Tuan Yang Terutama
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on being appointed as Head of
State on 1st March 2014. It is my great honour to take this
opportunity to pay our deepest respects to Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua
Negeri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud during his tenure as the Chief Minister of
Sarawak.
Under his chief ministership,
Pehin Sri has made tremendous and signal contributions to our beloved State
Sarawak.
Under the broad philosophy of
the Politics of Development, Pehin Sri emphasized the importance of racial and
religious harmony as the foundation stone for the development of Sarawak. The
ability of Pehin Sri to foster and to strengthen this harmony among our people
is a tribute to his humanity and his great love for Sarawak. This, we fully
acknowledge.
In strengthening the harmony
of our society, we in Sarawak is now firm in keeping out extremism of all
shades, so that we can all continue to forge the future of Sarawak in our own
way. The sovereignty of Sarawak and Malaysia is paramount and we as Sarawakians
shall defend them at all costs.
The development of Sarawak had
been foremost in the mind of Pehin Sri. After oil and timber, Pehin Sri
spearheaded the development of high tech electronic industries which created
Samajaya Free Industrial Zone in Kuching and the development of NCR land which
paved the way to commercial plantations particularly in oil palm which is now
another key industry in Sarawak. His latest idea was SCORE – the Sarawak
Corridor of Renewable Energy – which now introduces capital and
energy-intensive industries to Sarawak and the creation of a new township
called Samalaju. SCORE will also spearhead the development of the hinterland
with the development of hydro dams, the development of hydro lakes and the
development of new villages as a result of forward-looking approaches to
resettlement.
As enablers for development,
Pehin Sri developed the coastal road networks to open up the coastal areas and
rural road networks to provide accessibility to open up the interior of
Sarawak.
To implement his ideas, Pehin
Sri created new institutions namely STIDC, LCDA, SALCRA, NREB, SBC, SRB, and
the restructuring of Resident Office to focus on social and economic
development of the Divisions. Last but not least RECODA which oversees the
implementation of infrastructure projects in SCORE.
To improve the facilities for
higher educational in Sarawak, Pehin Sri was instrumental in the setting up of
UNIMAS, UiTM branch campus, as well as private universities namely Curtin and
Swinburne. As a result of SCORE, more technical and vocational training
institutions are also established.
We know that close to heart of
Pehin Sri are the poor and he took it as his priority to reduce the incidence
of poverty in the State from more than 30.0% in 1980s to only 2.4% in 2012, a
task which he has achieved remarkably well. This is a task which I shall
continue to take up to ensure that our poor are given the help that they need
including ways of improving their skills to be financially independent.
Pehin Sri had also ensure that
women in the Sarawak are not left out of the development process and his had
even set up an entire ministry to look after the interests of women and to see
how women can also contribute to society in our State.
His other contributions are
legion. To us of the younger generation then and now he has always been an
inspiration, the shining light on the hill, the beckoning beacon calling us to
do service to others.
Datuk Amar Speaker,
These are but only a brief
citation of some of the major contributions of Pehin Sri when he was the Chief
Minister of Sarawak. I think Sarawak and this august House feel a huge
gratitude to his contributions. I am sure that Pehin Sri will continue to make
his contributions to the State in his own unique way as our Tuan Yang Terutama
Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
Datuk Amar Speaker,
Under our leadership as Chief
Minister of Sarawak, I will continue to ensure political stability, bring in
more development to the State and to further strengthen racial harmony among
the people in Sarawak. These are the pillars of our strength for continued
development and prosperity.
The way forward for Sarawak
from onwards shall be along the same path that we have travelled, which is the
path of racial and religious harmony and the continued development of the
State.
I look forward to working with
all Sarawakians to strengthen this precious racial and religious harmony that
we must treasure. Our component parties have differences within themselves and
you know that I am asking them all to make personal sacrifices for party
benefits in order to come together in compromise.
For Sarawak to progress
further and faster, we must stay coherent and united as a State. We see many
countries in turmoil around the world because people do not want to compromise
and instead choose to fight with violence. Violence defeats all purposes of
living, and benefits only the last one standing. This is of no use to society
as a whole. We Sarawakians need to stay focused as to our primary objective.
Our intention is to build a Sarawak that is of benefit to all Sarawakians,
where all Sarawakians have the opportunities to provide for themselves and
their families, to care for their children as well as their old parents.
I will work to improve the
efficiency of the government particularly the service delivery of the civil
service. I want policies to be properly formulated and implemented as quickly
as possible so that the general public can benefit. I am happy that we have an
efficient and effective civil service. I want them to continue improving and to
serve the people well.
With a more efficient
government, the government facilitates the activities of the society and
economy and helps the businessmen and the people to improve their livelihood
and well-being.
I believe that the primary
focus of our economic development must provide the opportunities for improving
the incomes of the ordinary people. There should be no handouts, but hard work.
Those who are not skilled must be trained. The private sector must come up with
ideas to provide solutions for societies today. Young people must come up with
innovative ideas and become entrepreneurs. More established businessmen and
bankers must provide support to new ideas.
In the meantime, the
Government shall continue with our development plans. We shall continue with
our SCORE plan and build power-generating plants whenever there is sufficient
demand. We shall continue to build Samalaju and its port facilities and
housing. We will develop Tanjung Manis as a Halal Hub, Mukah as a Smart City,
Bandar Baru Telang Usan and Tunoh. We shall continue to develop NCR land for
commercial plantations for oil palm, rubber and other viable crops.
Datuk Amar Speaker,
We want to develop a strong
economy for Sarawak that will benefit people from all walks of life in years to
come. We are producing oil and gas, timber products, palm oil and other
manufactured and agriculture products for economic growth. Our economy have
achieved a remarkable growth of between 4% to 5% per annum and our GDP per
capita in 2013 is RM42,509. However,
more can be done to add value to the economy. Only through value added
activities will we be able to provide more high value jobs for our younger
people. Our local entrepreneurs especially the Small and Medium Industries
(SMIs) must be able to grab opportunities created by bigger industries. They must learn to be productive and competitive to
capture bigger market.
As we accelerate the
development of Sarawak, we must be increasingly conscious of our need to take
care of our natural environment, to protect it, and to restore it if need be.
We must make sure that our land and rivers are not filled with toxic chemicals,
our soil is not excessively eroded, and forests are not completely denuded.
But the natural resources that
we are endowed with in Sarawak are provided for our benefits and we must try to
optimise our usage as well. There is no society on earth that can survive
without taking advantage of what nature provides. If you do not have it, you
have to import it from somewhere. But what we must do is to manage our natural
environment so that it will last a long time for our benefit. This is what is
called sustainable development, and we want to develop Sarawak sustainably.
The present day land
administration system has its origin or foundation from various Orders made by
the Rajahs from 1841 when Sir James Brooke became the 1st Rajah of
Sarawak and the Ordinances passed during the British Colonial Administration,
including the Land Code. The important features of the Sarawak Land
administration system are:
it is based on the
Torrens System whereby all rights and interests over land are to be registered.
Registration confers indefeasible title to the person whose name appears on the
Register;
native rights to land
created in accordance with native customary laws of the respective communities
, are recognized;
Land is classified into
various categories to govern land ultilisation and to reserve or restrict
certain categories of land only for native ownership or occupation; and
Where land, alienated
or untitled, is needed for public purpose, such land may be compulsorily
acquired or rights over the same extinguished upon payment of compensation.
Therefore, for over a
century, Sarawak has a land administration system that protects rights to land
lawfully acquired, ensuring land needed for agriculture, industrial and
residential purposes are clearly identified. There are Native Area Land and
Interior Area Land where only native may acquire or have rights thereto, Mixed
Zone Land where natives and non-Natives can own; Reserved land which are for
government purposes, and State Land which are land under the control of the
State Government. It is a System best suited for a developing, multi racial
country because it ensures that there is availability of land for development
by both the Federal and State Governments, and for ownership by non natives and
natives alike.
Recently, there have
been allegations by both the Opposition as well as foreign and domestic NGOs,
that the State Government does not recognise NCR land and is depriving the
natives of their ancestral land, which are untitled, without extinguishment of
their rights and payment of adequate compensation.
I must place on record
that these allegations are unfounded and malicious, and the Government
categorically deny them.
The Government
recognizes rights created by natives over land in accordance with their
customary laws. It is accepted that after 1958, when the Land Code came into
force, no native customary rights can be created except over Interior Area Land
and a permit under section 10(3) is issued by the Superintendent. Section
5(2)(b) expressly provided that when the issue arises as to whether NCR had
been created, acquired, lost or extinguished, shall be determined according to
the law immediately in force before 1.1.1958.
The native customary
law that applied before 1958, as documented in the Rajah’s Orders, the codified
Adat of the various communities and decisions of the Courts prior or after
Malaysia Day, is that the person, who felled virgin jungle, occupied and
cultivated the cleared area, has the rights to that felled area, known as
temuda in the Iban language. Such land
could be inherited or given by away of gift to a relative or descendant
or someone from the same longhouse or village community.
From 1958, the land
administration system in Sarawak is based upon the principle that NCR land is
temuda land. From historical records,
such as aerial photographs taken by the British Royal Air Force and land use
maps prepared by the Land & Surveys Department; in 1958, there were
approximately 1.5 million hectares of NCR land, owned by the natives of
Sarawak. Land, which is not temuda land, had since 1958, been used by the
Government for implementation of development projects, or alienated to other
communities or the private sector for agriculture, residential or commercial
usage, or licences for logging of timber and exploration and extraction of
minerals, issued under the Forests Ordinance or Minerals Ordinance
respectively. In other words, these non temuda land are put into economic use
to facilitate the development of the State.
Titles to these temuda
land have been issued to natives, free of premium and in perpetuity under
section 18(1) of the Land Code. As on 31 January, 2014, 209,391 such titles
covering 291,234.79 hectares of NCR land had been issued to natives.
Additionally, the Government under the NKRA programme, had surveyed 366,002
hectares of NCR land, to be gazetted as Native Communal Reserves. Survey of NCR land is continuing under the
NKRA programme. About 150,000 hectares are earmarked for perimeter survey this
year. Titles for land within these reserves would be issued once the natives
themselves have agreed upon their individual lots and a survey thereof
undertaken.
Further, 538,884
hectares of NCR land have been developed under the Konsep Baru Pembangunan
Tanah Adat Bumiputra by the end of last year (2013). Titles, for 60 years term,
for these land have been issued to joint venture companies formed for develop
these land into commercial plantation so that the natives can realize the
optimum economic potential for their land. The Government will amend the Land
Code to ensure that such land would revert back, by operation of law, to the
native participants upon expiry of the 60 year term of the leases issued to the
joint venture companies in which the native participants themselves have at
least 30% equity interests.
Two issues have been
raised with regard to NCR land lately. One, the Courts have allegedly
recognized pemakai menoa and pulau galau as part of NCR land. To make the law
consistent with the decisions of the Courts, there had been 2 attempts by the
Honourable Member for Ba’Kelalan to introduce Motions in this august House to
amend the definition of “Native Customary Land” to include pemakai menoa and
pulau galau as part of “Native Customary Land”. This means the Courts’
decisions at High Court and even Court of Appeal levels, are inconsistent with
the laws previously passed by this august House and which remain in force,
otherwise there is no need to amend the Land Code. The constitutional principle
of separation of powers must be maintained. The Legislature makes laws, and may
empower the Executive to make subsidiary legislations. The Courts’
constitutional duty is to interpret, apply and enforce the legislations both
principal and subsidiary. Courts cannot legislate.
At the apex Court, that
is the federal Court level, for the record, only the following NCR land cases
have been decided by that Court, viz:
Superintendent of Lands
& Surveys, Miri v. Madeli Salleh;
Superintendent of Lands & Surveys Bintulu v Amit
bin Salleh and Others;
Bato Bagi & others v Government of Sarawak &
another Appeal;
Bisi Jinggot v Superintendent of Lands & Surveys,
Kuching & Others;
Balare Jabu v Director of Forests & others;
Litus Jau & others v Boustead Pelita Tinjar Sdn
Bhd & Government of Sarawak; and
Lah Anyie & Ors vs Government of Sarawak &
Others.
Except for Bisi
Jinggot, none of the other cases related to the issue of pemakai menoa or pulau
galau. In Bisi Jinggot, the federal Court decided, as I had already informed
this august House in November, 2013, that for an Iban to create NCR according
to the custom of the Iban community, he must have felled virgin forests,
cultivated and occupied the land continuously. The decision put to rest what is
NCR land, although some quarters still do not accept the finality of this
decision on what is NCR.
Therefore, the
assertion by the Honourable Member for Ba’kelalan the federal Court had decided
that pemakai menoa and pulau galau is NCR land, is completely unfounded and
baseless.
Indeed, in the cases of
Madeli Salleh and Amit Salleh who are Malays, they could not have created NCR
by the custom of pemakai menoa and pulau galau. In the case of Madeli Salleh,
his claim was based on the fact that his grandfather planted coconut trees on
the land in 1914. Such a claim is akin to a claim over temuda land. The issue
in Amit Salleh was whether the Government was liable to pay compensation for
the teak and sentang trees planted on a Native Communal Reserve by a joint
venture company which is non native when the Reserve was required for an
alumina plant, and the natives concerned were given a replacement lot of
similar area in the same vicinity. I trust the Honourable Member for Ba’kelalan
will, henceforth, not claim that in case Madeli Salleh (a Malay), the federal
Court had recognized pemakai menoa and pulau galau.
Next, the federal court
decision in Bisi Jinggot that individual
NCR land cannot be transferred for valuable consideration by way of sale and
purchase agreements had caused concern amongst the native communities because
of its impact on the transferability and value of NCR land. The case was
decided based on the Iban custom of Tungkus Asi.
The Government will
seriously consider amending the Land Code to allow transfer of NCR land by one
native to another. The Government believes that any custom which inhibits the
marketability of NCR land would suppress the value of NCR land to the detriment
of the natives.
However, any change to
the law must not erode or undermine public and investor confidence in our Land
Administration System. Any amendment ought not to result in those issued with
titles over land which are not temuda land and having expended very substantial
sums in developing the land, found their land to be encumbered by native rights
as a result of a change in our law. Nor should any amendment alter the outcome
of cases already decided by the Courts or affect any proceedings pending in the
Court. If amendments to the law would
affect the lawfully acquired rights of other parties this would result in a
multiplicity of legal problems and could haven severe adverse impact on the
economy of the State.
I would like also to
rebut the allegation that the Government do not pay adequate compensation for
NCR land needed for public purposes. For the record, from 2012 until August
2013 the Government has paid RM49,935,560.13 in compensation to 3,681 claimants
of NCR land for the implementation of a total of 152 development projects. In
the case of Bakun and Murum, the Government has paid hundreds of millions of
ringgit to compensate them for the loss of their NCR land. The State Government
recognizes that by reason of Article 13 of the Federal Constitution adequate
compensation must be paid for land which is compulsorily acquired for public
purposes in accordance with the law. This august House can be rest assured fair
or adequate compensation would be paid for all NCR land needed for public
purposes.
Datuk Amar Speaker,
Over the years, Sarawak has enjoyed cordial relationship with
the Federal Government. My predecessor has established excellent rapport with
Federal leaders namely Yang Amat Berbahagia the late Tun Hussein bin Dato' Onn,
Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad, Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun
Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi and Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib
bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak the present Prime Minister of Malaysia. This
relationship has enabled us to work closely together in bringing progress to
the State including resolving numerous issues for the benefit of the rakyat.
Rest assured that I will continue to strengthen the existing
relationship with Federal leaders especially YAB Prime Minister and his Deputy.
Even I have their direct telephone lines. I must acknowledge that the Federal
leaders have given their full support to the State leaders in developing
Sarawak. However, let me reiterate here that Sarawak relationship with the
Federal Government is unique and it must be constitutionally correct as
enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963. Indeed, we are equal partners in the
formation of Malaysia. For this very reason, we have and will continue to
safeguard our rights and autonomy.
Datuk Amar Speaker,
The issue pertaining to Sarawak's autonomy within the Federation
of Malaysia and how Sarawak's constitutional rights should be safeguarded, has
been raised in this august House particularly by the Honourable Member for
Pujut.
To fully understand this issue it is essential to dwell on the
historical background leading to the State's independence from British rule by
joining the Federation of Malaysia in September, 1963.
Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-haj made his proposal
in 1961 for the formation of a new Federation of Malaysia, encompassing Malaya,
Singapore, Brunei, North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak. Once this proposal was
publicly announced, the British and Malayan Governments decided to establish a
Commission - the Cobbold Commission - " to ascertain the views of the
peoples of North Borneo and Sarawak" with regard to their countries
joining the proposed new Federation and to make the necessary recommendations
to both the British and Malayan Governments.
The Commission, which comprised representatives of the British
and Malayan Governments and Governors of Sarawak and North Borneo, conducted
hearings and received written representations from various political parties,
community leaders and other individuals in the two Borneo States. They
concluded that the majority of the people from the two States would agree to independence
from Britain provided there are special safeguards for the interests of the two
States and their peoples who do not wish to substitute one form of colonism
under the British with another form when Malaysia was formed.
Thus, an Inter-Governmental Committee ("IGC") was
formed, comprising of representatives of the British, Malayan, Sarawak and
North Borneo Governments "to work out the future constitutional
arrangements, including safeguards for the special interests of North Borneo and
Sarawak to cover such matters as religious freedom, education, representation
in the Federal Parliament, the position of the indigenous races, control of
immigration, citizenship and the State Constitutions. "On the 26
September, 1963, this august House passed a resolution, without any dissent,
which, inter alia, welcomed the decision in principle of the British and
Malayan Governments to establish Malaysia by 31 August, 1963 on the
understanding that "the special interests of Sarawak will be
safeguarded". This august House then appointed representatives of Sarawak
to the IGC which would be established" to work out the detailed
constitutional arrangements and the form of the safeguards" for the
special interests of the State if Sarawak were to join the proposed new Federation.
The IGC completed its Report on 27 February 1963 with
recommendations in Annexes A and B that provided for the legislative lists,
administrative arrangements and assurances and the public service to safeguard
the special interests of the States of Sarawak and North Borneo when they
joined the new Federation of Malaysia. The IGC Report were incorporated into
the Malaysia Agreement signed by Sarawak's representatives in London on 9 July
1963 and based on the IGC Report, the following provisions in the Malaysia
Agreement stipulated how those special safeguards were to be implemented,
namely:
Article V - The Malayan Government will take steps to secure
enactment by Federal Parliament before
Malaysia Day, an Act for, inter alia, which makes "additional provision
with respect to the entry into the States of Sabah and Sarawak" and “the
other provisions of this Agreement shall be conditional upon the enactment of
the said Act." Pursuant to this Article, the Immigration Act 1963 was
passed by the then Malayan Parliament which vests powers on the control on
entry and residence in Sarawak of persons who have no "connection” with
the State on the State Authority and to amend and incorporated into the Federal
Constitution special provisions to entrench this safeguard on the control of
entry into Sarawak and Sabah.
Article VIII - the Governments of Federation of Malaya, Sarawak
and Sabah will take legislative, executive or other actions to implement all
the recommendations in the IGC Report for the protection of the special
interests of Sabah and Sarawak "in so far as they are not implemented by
express provisions of the Constitution of Malaysia.
Having regard to the historical background set out above, the
present day Federal-State relationship between the State and Federal
Governments is governed – not by the so called "18 points
Agreements" – but by the Malaysia Agreement which gave
birth to the Federation of Malaysia and the Federal Constitution which
incorporated recommendations the IGC Report on the special safeguards for the protection of the special
interests of Sarawak and Sabah.
Under the Federal Constitution, Sarawak, like Sabah, have
additional sources of revenues provided in the 10th Schedule of the Federal
Constitution, additional legislative authorities provided in the 9th
Schedule, power to impose Sales Tax under Article 95B, control over land
development as the National Land Development Plan and land policies of the
Federal Government do not apply to Sarawak (Article 92E(2), complete
jurisdiction over local authorities in Sarawak, ports (other than Federal
ports) and traffic on rivers in the State, the continued use of English as the
official language (other than Bahasa Malaysia) and as the language of the
Courts in Sarawak, and a High Court for Sarawak and Sabah and the right to
appear before such Courts, and the control of entry by persons who do not
belong to the State, into the Sarawak.
It cannot be denied that these constitutional provisions
accorded to Sarawak a greater degree of financial, legislative and
administrative autonomy not enjoyed by the other States in Semenanjung
Malaysia. These provisions are intended to enable the State to have a degree of
independence from the central government in the areas outlined above. But, the
relationship between the State and Federal Governments must be managed not only
in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia
Agreement but in accordance with the spirit upon which these constitutional
provisions were enacted prior to the formation of Malaysia with regular
consultations and in a manner that best suited towards enhancing national unity
and strengthening State-Federal relationships.
The State Government assures this august House that it will
continue to safeguard all the constitutional rights of the State and the
entrenched or built-in safeguards in the Federal Constitution to protect the
special interests of the State. This august House can be rest assured that any
proposal to alter or remove any of these constitutional safeguards would be
brought by the State Government to the attention of this House for deliberation
and its endorsement would be sought.
On the issue of the State's autonomy over immigration, as
explained this is a right entrenched in the Federal Constitution as recommended
by the IGC. This right is accorded to the State to safeguard the security of
the State, the unity and harmony of its multi ethnic and multi religious
population, and the interests of its people in terms of employment
opportunities or the recruitment of persons with special skills and expertise
who could contribute to the progress and development of the State. The IGC in
its Report state:
"the Federation Government should give an assurance that
labour for Federal projects in the Borneo States will not be recruited from
outside the State if adequate local labour is available, and that it is not the
intention of the Federal Government, in its control of immigration (into
Malaysia), to hinder the recruitment of persons from outside Malaysia as experts
or technical advisors or for the purpose of employment by the Governments of
the Borneo States."
The Federal Court in the landmark case of Pihak Berkuasa Negeri
Sabah v Sugumar Balakrishnan & Another Appeal (2002) 4 CLJ 105 upheld the
powers of the State Authority of Sabah to cancel the entry permit issued to a
Negri Sembilan born lawyer, noting that "one of the terms of participation
of Sabah and Sarawak in the new Federation of Malaysia as could be seen from
the Report of the Inter-Governmental Report" is that a special law must be
enacted before Malaysia Day, to vest on the State Authority of Sabah and
Sarawak the powers to control entry of persons not belonging to the two States
into those States. Part VII of the Immigration Act is the special law
conferring such powers on the two States and the Federal Court ruled that
"In dealing with Part VII of the Act one must not forget the
constitutional recognition under Clause (3) of article 9 of the Federal
Constitution relating to the special position of Sabah and Sarawak where
Parliament may impose restrictions". In other words, Part VII of the
Immigration Act is not unconstitutional by imposing restrictions on the freedom
of movements by Malaysians within the Federation, as such restrictions may be
imposed by the special law conferring powers over immigration control, on the
States of Sarawak and Sabah.
Some Honourable Members have brought up specific cases of
persons who had been denied entry into the States. It would be inappropriate
for security and public interests considerations to discuss each and everyone
of these cases in this august House. Suffice to say that, if these individuals
are aggrieved by the decisions of the State Authority to bar them from entering
into Sarawak, they are at liberty to seek whatever legal remedies that may be
available to them in a Court of Law.
Let me reiterate, that the powers of immigration powers granted
to the State by the Federal Constitution and Part VII of the Immigration Act
has always been applied by the State as a "filter" to enable persons
who come to the State as bona fide visitors or who could contribute positively
towards the progress and prosperity of the State but to exclude those whose
presence in Sarawak could disrupt the peace and harmony amongst its multi
ethnic and multi religious peoples or the security of and public order in the
State.
Datuk Amar Speaker,
Sarawak is as big as Peninsula Malaysia. Developing such a big
State poised many challenges. Our population is small and sparsely scattered
makes it even harder to provide them with basic facilities. No doubt, we have
progress by leaps and bounds in all fields but there still exist development
gaps between Sarawak and other States in Peninsula Malaysia. Although the
Federal Government is sympathetic with our requests for bigger development
funding to catch up, there is much more to be done including seeking for
various other sources of funding.
Therefore, we need to put in place different approach to
accelerate the pace of development in the State. This approach will be incorporated in the
preparation of the State’s Eleventh Malaysia Plan, whereby intensive engagement
at various levels with the Federal Government will be carried out.
Time is the essence here as we have less than 6 years to achieve
our target of becoming a high income and advanced economy by 2020. I would like
to inform this august House that we, the State Government are determined to
work out this matter with the Federal Government. In this regards, the support
from Ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat regardless of political divide is very much
welcomed to ensure the progress and prosperity of our people.
I hope my explanation
especially on matters pertaining to State–Federal Relationship, State’s
Autonomy and Immigration has enlightened members of this august House. I am
firm in ensuring the autonomy, rights and security of Sarawak continue to be
safeguarded. I will also not compromise on issues that can disrupt the racial
and religious harmony of our people.
I am committed to further
strengthen the economic growth and development of Sarawak, to increase the
income of our people and to further reduce poverty.
It gives me great pleasure to
be here today in this august House. I look forward to working fruitfully with
all parties with the sole purpose of serving our people well.
Thank you.
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