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Saturday, June 7, 2014

Sarawak to bar extremists, religious bigots and racists

Sarawak is tightening its immigration rules and stepping up scrutiny of visitors particularly from the peninsula to keep out "extremists, religious bigots and racists", Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said.

At a press conference to mark his 100th day as Chief Minister, Adenan said racism and religious intolerance were "not in character with the people of Sarawak".

"We have lived harmoniously all these many years and it is my responsibility to see that we, people of all races and culture, continue to live harmoniously together.

"May 13 never happened here. As far as Sarawak is concerned, May 13 (race riots in 1969) was a distant thunder on the other side of the hill," said Adenan, who succeeded Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud in February.

One way to safeguard the harmony in the state, he said, was to keep religious fanatics and racists "of all colours" out.

No officials would say how many names are the "black list" of people banned from the state, but one name that Adenan himself had said months earlier was on the list is that of Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

Perkasa is a Malay right-wing group that had been fanning racial and religious tensions in the peninsula.

Adenan was responding to questions on how he planned to achieve his vision of making Sarawak a "progressive, vibrant and harmonious" state when the rumblings of religious and racial intolerance were getting louder in the peninsula and could spread to Sarawak.

Even though immigration is a matter under federal purview, Sarawak and Sabah have autonomy over immigration in their respective states under the terms of the Malaysia Agreement and, therefore, can bar anyone they deemed undesirable and a threat to the state.

"I feel great being the Chief Minister of Sarawak and what is my achievement in these 100 days, is for you to decide," he said.

"The best thing is that there was a smooth power transition between former Chief Minister and me É many have shown their support for me, even the Opposition paid me a courtesy call.

"I feel great," he said at the special session with the media in conjunction with his 100 days in office as the chief minister. June 8 will mark exactly l00 days in office since Adenan took over the mantle from his predecessor Abdul Taib on March 1.

Adenan said the 100 days in office is just too short for him to highlight any achievement but said that he has kept all the good policies in place.

"I have ideas of my own but that can wait. When there are good things, why change them for the sake of changing. We should keep them," he said.

Abdul Taib is now the head of state, whose rule in Sarawak spanned 32 years.

On his vision and mission for the state, Adenan said he wanted to see a progressive, vibrant and harmonious state, which is very much in line with the concept of 1Malaysia.

He explained Sarawak is on track to become a high-income state by 2020 with the support from the Federal Government.

"I think we are on the way there, we can reach the target," he said, adding that one of the biggest challenges is to narrow the income gap between those in urban and rural areas while acknowledging there were still pockets of poverty.

"Our poverty level compared with 20-30 years has been very much reduced but the challenge is always there in bridging the divide between the rural poor and the prosperous urbanites.

"The reason for this is the lack of opportunities in rural areas.

There was a time, about 30-40 years ago, our rural-urban population ratio was 70:30 but now it is almost 50:50.

"We cannot blame the people for the disparity. We must close that gap by putting focus on rural development.

"Sarawak is a huge state, more than 5,000 longhouses and villages.

We still lack infrastructure and our emphasis is on that.

We are going to create more nucleus areas, and promote more rural growth centres in the effort to reduce rural-urban migration," he said.

Therefore, Adenan said he was happy that the Federal Government is open to the state's request for more oil royalty - the state has requested for 20pc royalty - which was unanimously adopted in the state assembly sitting last month.

However, he explained the state is open to suggestion that some of the increases to be given in terms of equity, such as 5pc for gas and another 10pc for oil.

He said this is due to the fact that there were new areas of development related to the new gas field where the higher royalty could be given in terms of equity.

"As long as the amount is the same, it does not matter to us," he said.

Adenan also revealed that the Sarawak Corridor for Renewal Energy (SCORE) has been receiving good support, exceeding the government's expectation.

Score is now preparing for the second wave of development, which will create thousands of employment opportunities.

"The openings are not only for unskilled workers but also for skilled workers for the next 10-15 years.

"It also adds value, as we not only produce raw material, but move towards industrialisation," he said.

Launched in 2008, a total of 18 investment projects have been approved for Score with total investment of RM29.43bil that will create over 15,000 job opportunities.

He also said the state's financial health is in good shape with very high credit standing and high reserve.

Sarawak has recorded strong financial performance with an income surplus for several years in a row resulting in RM22bil in state reserves last year.

Sarawak PKR vice-chairman See Chee How, meanwhile, reminded Adenan that his 100-day "honeymoon" was not without bitterness.

He said Adenan that he and his new administration are perceived as interim and "a continuation of the old administration that is under intense scrutiny and criticism locally and internationally".

He added that Adenan was seen as playing second fiddle to Taib, who is now the Yang DiPertua Negeri.

"Adenan was given a lot of slack in his first 100 days.

He has enjoyed a high level of public support.

"The high hopes for what he will be able to accomplish, the benefit of doubt given to him that his administration will govern in ways that they like becomes a trust in the new chief minister and in the promises that he made in his inauguration speech," See said in a statement.

"The new chief minister vows to be a chief minister for all Sarawakians, to protect the popular aspirations for state autonomy, special rights and privileges under the Malaysia Agreement, and higher oil and gas royalty.

He further promised to bar the entry of racists and religious bigots and declared that there will be no implementation of hudud in Sarawak and no seizure of Holy Scriptures (Bibles). All these bode well with the general Sarawakians," See said.

However, Adenan's mantle as the Barisan Nasional state chief was also being tested, See said, referring to two senior ministers and about half a dozen assistant ministers who stirred political unrest in the state BN in a mass exodus with their supporters from their former parties to join a newly formed party.

The move provoked strong opposition from three state BN coalition parties - Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Takyat Sarawak (PRS) and the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

See summed up Adenan's 100 days by saying: "While there are no major accomplishments yet, there are also no failures, disappointments or liabilities.

"The new chief minister must deliver his promises and be the chief administration to fulfil the hopes of Sarawakians that things can change and their lives will be improved under the new administration."

DE

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