KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has praised the contributions by the Teochew community in Sarawak, particularly in the areas of trade, commerce and education.
He said despite numerous hardships following the journey of the Teochew people from China to Sarawak, the community’s determination led to their successful establishment in Kuching, contributing significantly to the city’s growth.
“Those who landed in Kuching, you have formed your community, and developed Kuching like the Kuching Main Bazaar and Carpenter Street.
“You have spread your culture and made it a part of Kuching and Sarawak’s identity. In other words, you are Sarawakian, and you dedicated your life and helped to develop Sarawak,” he said.
He said this during the 160th Anniversary Celebration Dinner of Kuching Teochew Association held at a hotel here last night (June 16).
Abang Johari said that while the earlier generations of Teochew in Kuching were engaged in trade and commerce, they also prioritised education, leading to the establishment of Kuching High School.
“Education is the key for us to move forward. And I take that as a model. If Sarawak were to come out and if it were to be able to uplift the people’s standard of living and to be competitive, we must have Sarawakian who are fully disciplined and have the relevant education,” he said.
Against that background, he said the state aims to provide Sarawakian students free tertiary education at Sarawak-owned universities by 2026.
“We need to have an educational background, and that will drive our economic development based on the talent of Sarawakian.
“That is also why Sarawak recognised the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and I also provide special allocation of RM10 million to the Chinese schools every year,” he said, while adding that many native in the state are studying at Chinese schools.
He added having proficiency in Mandarin was also important in fostering trade and cultural connections, and having the ability to engage with the Chinese community both locally and internationally.
“And today China is the second world’s biggest economy. So I also go to China, and to get more investment from there,” he said.
In terms of technology, he said Sarawak is also adopting technology from China particularly in building the state’s Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART).
On another note, he congratulated the Kuching High School for producing graduates who contribute across various sectors.
With that, he announced a grant of RM160,000 for the Kuching High School to improve the facilities at the school.
