I will be honest. I do not follow Sarawak news on a daily basis and there must be many issues of interest which I have missed.
Well, it’s also impossible to read all the newspapers or news portals and keep abreast of everything that goes on around us on a daily basis. That would be a gigantic task beyond many.
So I am grateful each time friends in Sarawak forwarded to me news clips which they think I would be interested in. It’s great to be updated of happenings back home.
One recent issue (which I now know is of much interest in Sarawak) is the report of the GPS government’s decision to set up a new university campus near Kampung Trombol in Telaga Air.
I received four of the same post on March 4 in which Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) president Bobby William questioned the government’s rational in setting up “a university only for Muslims”.
Its president Bobby William said the decision, which was announced by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg recently, was commendable if not for the fact that it only caters for a minority in Sarawak.
“PBDSB is asking why GPS policies are pointing towards an Islamic-centric government even though Sarawak is officially a secular state.
“PBDSB questions the usefulness of such a university which caters only for Muslims,” he said in a statement which was carried by The Borneo Post.
So the issue is this — the opposition party is against a university for Muslims only. Well, PBDSB has an issue here which is valid if true.
Each of the four friends asked me for my take on the matter. It was something new to me as I was totally in the dark about it. I also did not read what Abang Johari actually said.
Of course, it would be foolhardy of me to comment on something which I have no first-hand knowledge of. Certainly not on a sensitive subject like this which also borders on religion.
So, I requested for some time to do some checks before I respond.
My source in the GPS government was quick to react to my queries on the matter. (As I did not get his permission, I will not reveal his identity) I understand that he had obtained feedback from the ‘authorities’ directly involved with the issue.
This is the gist of what I have been told. And this is my response to those who have requested my comments on the matter.
Firstly, the new campus of the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS) University College in Matang is for all races, not for Muslims only.
That has been made clear. The PBDSB leadership should take note.
In a New Sarawak Tribune report dated 28 Feb, 2020, Abang Johari said that the setting up of the new Matang campus is in line with its efforts to produce a knowledgeable ummah or society in the state.
The premier was speaking at the 61st Sarawak-level Al-Quran Recitation Ceremony and this was possibly how the link to an Islamic university came about, the source explained in a WhatsApp message.
But the premier never mentioned that the new i-CAT University campus was for Muslims only.
This is where Bobby William got it all wrong.
Abang Johari also said the university would focus on offering various programmes, especially those related to technology.
He said the Sarawak government would provide scholarships and study loans for students who have financial issues to further their studies.
I have read the Feb 28 report as well as another one dated March 9, 2021, where Abang Johari first announced that the Sarawak government has approved land in Matang as well as a financial grant for the new i-CATS University College campus.
Nowhere in these articles did the premier ever mention that the new campus is to cater for Muslims only.
For anyone to claim otherwise is seriously wrong and a clarification or retraction is in order.
I like to believe that as a responsible politician, Bobby William knows what he should do next.
Either furnish proof of the premier’s statement tying him to the “for Muslims only” campus or failing which, he should retract his statement and be honourable enough even to issue an apology.
For me, I do not wish issues of the racial or religious kind being bandied about unnecessarily in our dear homeland of Sarawak. Let us not be irresponsible by creating silly reasons for that to happen.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
