SIBU: With the new Madani government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, lots of new initiatives have been made to strengthen the continuity of the nation’s economic growth.
Pointing out this, Sibu Member of Parliament, Oscar Ling Chai Yew said in last two years, Madani government has shown great achievements.
“I believe with the right direction we are heading, Malaysia will continue to thrive under the Madani leadership.
“The federal government also devolved autonomous powers to Sarawak to honour the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which has never happened before under other governments.
“I believe Madani government will continue to honour more autonomous powers to Sarawak which will bring more benefits to the people of Sarawak,” he said at the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration night organised by his MP Service Centre at Rejang Park Commercial Centre’s open space here on Saturday.
Ling believed that granting autonomy from federal to the state should also followed by granting more autonomy from the state to local government as well.
Sibu, he said, once a vibrant town in Sarawak, is now slowly becoming neglected in the mainstream development in the state.
He believed local governments should be empowered with greater responsibility especially power to give approval of land uses and land development projects.
Adding on, he said there should be two tiers of devolution of power, from federal to state, and from state to local government.
Touching on the mid-autumn festival, he said it is one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture, meant to be the time for families to have gatherings or reunions.
With the theme of the event ‘Home, Mid Autumn, Sibu’, he stressed that it emphasises the importance of family as the core element in society.
“One proverb in Chinese says, ‘Cultivate oneself, manage one’s family, govern the country and bring peace to the world.’ It means one cannot only think of oneself, but also the harmony of the family, and always to follow the progress of the country and bring peace to the world, that’s the basic responsibility of an individual.
“Mid autumn is the time for us to go back to the home, not house, house is just an empty building , but home is a house with people who are closest to you, we go back to our families and value the bonds which are essential for us to live positively and healthily.
“We also always follow the latest developments of our country, we contribute positively to our country to ensure the harmony and unity of our country,” Ling added.
Various entertainment programmes including cultural performance, hip hop, drama, dance competition and lucky draws were held to add merriment to the occasion.
Also present was former Bukit Assek assemblywoman, Irene Chang who is also DAP Sarawak Political education director.
