1,300 attend 78th National Teochew Delegates Conference

KUCHING: 1,300 delegates attended the 78^th National Teochew Delegates Conference and the 83^rd Anniversary  Celebration of the  Federated  Teochew  Associations of Malaysia at Pullman Hotel here yesterday. This is fifth time  Kuching is hosting  the  national event.

The Chinese community has always been an important  part of the  Sarawak’s economic  progress and the Chinese business acumen  and industriousness  have positioned  the community to be in the forefront of business , trade and  industry in the  state, providing  employment and business  opportunities  for the people , apart from  bringing revenue  to the state through  taxes, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg said.

The State Government, he said,  recognised the  contribution of the  Chinese community  and the  human capital required for the State’s development.

“As the Chief Minister of  Sarawak , I will  adopt  multi-racial, just  and  fair  leadership in administering the  state,” he assured  in his speech at the 78^th  National Delegates Conference and the 83^rd Anniversary  of the  Federated  Teochew  Associations of Malaysia at Pullman Hotel here yesterday.

The text of his speech was read  by Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr  Sim Kui Hian.

Abang Johari said he was happy to learn that  this was the fifth time  Kuching  was  hosting  the grand national event, and  his late father  Tun Datuk Abang  Haji Openg and him  had always enjoyed  their friendship with the  Teochew  community. “As the Governor  then my late father  officiated at the conference  in 1966, the first time it was held  in Kuching,” he said.

The Chief Minster said in the 1800s when the forefathers of the Teochew  community  here migrated  from China , they were mostly  engaged in grocery business and trading primary  commodities.

“The Teochew  community has been living  in a  diverse  multi-cultural  society  in harmony  with the  other local communities. The Teochew community  has also  been  a major  contributor  to the development of  Sarawak and the nation, in particular  in the  field of education,  commerce and industry ,” he said.