KUCHING: With the appointment of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister, Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) says it wants to see greater representation from Sarawak in the country’s new administration and various other agencies.
SDGA president Gary Ningkan said Sarawak needed greater attention from the federal government in order for it to be on par with its West Malaysian counterparts, and he believed that the state did not lack talents, expertise and human capital.
“We need to have greater autonomy for education and healthcare. Sarawak is a large state, where its people spread out in all corners,” he said in a statement yesterday.
With greater autonomy, Gary said the state could cater to all Sarawakians better in terms of infrastructure and services.
“Our clinics are in dire need of upgrades and improvements. Our dilapidated schools need to be repaired and upgraded. This is long overdue,” he said.
He urged the new premier to appoint the right personnel to lead the respective ministries and agencies.
“A talent mismatch at the top can be counterproductive and this will affect the citizens’ wellbeing.
“We hope to see appointments of industry experts — technocrats, professionals, academicians — even if it means crossing the political divide to ensure that we will sail through the storm safely,” he said.
Gary said the new government should look into the importance of growth for SMEs as this would trigger the job market and create solutions for worrying unemployment rate among the youth demographic and B40.
“Affordable housing and healthcare are essential and need to be addressed at the very top level. There is an apparent mismatch between salary and cost of living, especially in major cities,” he said.
He pointed out many young Malaysians were unable to afford a home and get themselves insured. If this trend continued, Malaysia would see greater talent drain happening.
“We also urge all Malaysians, especially Sarawakians, to recalibrate ourselves and start focusing on how to improve our country economically. Let us stop being emotional about politics, and instead lend each other a helping hand.
“As for our politicians, we need them to put the interest of the country ahead and above other things more than ever. Our politicians come from various backgrounds and fields of expertise, and we, the citizens, hope that they can be exemplary figures to all Malaysians,” he said.
