KUCHING: The Sarawak Malay National Association (PKMS) has shown that the Malay community can endure and excel across challenging periods, including colonial and communist eras, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Speaking at PKMS’s 85th-anniversary celebration, he praised the association’s enduring contributions, stating that the association has navigated numerous challenges over the years while striving to meet the aspirations of the Malay community.
“When we look at PKMS’s 85-year journey, it has contributed many ideas, not only in fostering community spirit during different historical eras, but also managed to understand the needs of the Malay community and, by extension, the people of Sarawak,” he said.
Abang Johari also highlighted the role of Yayasan Sarawak, founded in 1970 to support Malay and indigenous youths in pursuing higher education across Malaysia.
He said this initiative has birthed many leaders who have returned to serve Sarawak, even becoming successful in state administration and the corporate sector.
“Malays, alongside our indigenous communities, hold prominent positions, raising the stature of Malays and other indigenous people. This is the success we have achieved since the 1970s,” he added.
He further urged the community to reflect on how best to navigate the changing social landscape.
“The situation has changed again. This is an era where Malays must reflect on themselves and consider whether they can compete with others. The communist era is behind us, and now we must look only to the future.
“One way or another, we must reflect on ourselves and what steps we should take so that Malay children can be placed anywhere and succeed,” he added.
Furthermore, he also stressed the importance of retaining properties within the community to preserve Malay heritage.
“We often see urban areas where, over time, only a mosque remains as evidence of the Malay presence. Inheritance issues can lead to properties being sold and lost from the community,” he said.
To address this, he noted the creation of the Sarawak Trust Fund last year, ensuring that properties, like the historic Arif Hotel, remain within the community through the Trust Fund.
“Without this, it too would have been lost. That is why we must have strategies to develop the indigenous Malay community in this era of rapid development,” he said.
