KUCHING: The new Cabinet truly reflects a unity government, says Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OUCCI) president, Datuk Mutang Tagal.
He noted that there are 19 Muslim ministers in the 28-member Cabinet, including five Chinese ministers, three non-Muslim Bumiputera ministers, and an Indian minister, as well as seven ministers from Sarawak and Sabah.
In the new Cabinet announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, he added that there are also five women ministers and 14 out of the 28 members are new faces.
Having said that, he pointed out that, contrary to what Anwar’s detractors say, his Cabinet is truly representative.
“We hope that this Cabinet, with a mixture of youth, new faces, more women, and senior ones with experience, will get down to work immediately to contain and reduce the rising costs of living, thus reducing and alleviating the burdens of the poor and those in rural areas.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic and ever since, the cost of poultry, beef, fish, vegetables, eggs, sugar, cooking oil, flour, milk, coffee, tea, petrol, and diesel has skyrocketed.
“This has caused hardship on the people,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune.
Mutang asserted that the coalition of the unity government is knitted together by their mutual common interests of desiring to govern for a full term.
So, he said, they can restore investor confidence in the country, turn around country’s economy, and strengthen the ringgit.
On the same note, he pointed out that the anti-hopping law passed by Parliament is a blessing in disguise.
He added that it is needed now more than ever to prevent MPs from across both political divides from jumping ship.
This, he stressed, ensures Anwar’s government will last its full term.
Adding on, he said with Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi as Works Minister, Sarawakians and Sabahans expect him to give hefty allocations in the 2023 federal budget to complete the Pan Borneo Highway projects within the tenure of Anwar’s government.
“Also, the Trans Borneo Highway Project connecting Miri-Brunei-Limbang-Lawas-Sipitang must be implemented at the same time.
“Phase 2 of the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR), which will bypass Brunei to connect Sarawak and Sabah, must begin construction within his term as Minister of Works.
“The rakyat in the Borneo regions also expect him to build spur roads to all the rural longhouses and kampungs in the two Borneo regions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi who is familiar with the Jiwa Murni Road projects in Sarawak is expected to give more allocations from his Rural Development ministry to build basic rural utilities like rural roads, rural electricity, water treatment plants, and so on.
He added that Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing as the newly-minted Tourism Minister must give serious attention to tourism infrastructure in Sarawak.
This includes cheaper airfares for both domestic and international tourists to Sarawak and giving more landing rights to other airlines coming to Sarawak like those from Korea, China, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cathay Pacific to encourage tourists coming from these countries to Sarawak.
The chamber also looks forward to more attention being given to Sarawak with Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof serving as Deputy Prime Minister (DPM).
“We hope his post is not merely cosmetic but gives him power, clout, and prestige.
“We thank the PM for appointing Fadillah as one of the two DPMs. It’s an honour for Sarawak and Sabah.
“We look forward to an amicable and speedy resolution to outstanding issues under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) negotiations. Congratulations and kudos to the unity Cabinet of Anwar,” said Mutang.
He then assured that the country will be better off when Anwar’s team hits the ground running.
Forget politics and the polemics, he said, and unite the people and build this beautiful country of Malaysia.
