MIRI: Members of the Orang Ulu community have been reminded to remain united and strengthen their unity under ethnic community capable leaders despite being a minority group.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said their current leaders are capable and knowledgeable to further develop the community.
Speaking at the earth-breaking ceremony of the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations of Sarawak Malaysia (Forum) multipurpose hall, general office and resource centre at Jalan Pujut Padang Kerbau today, he added that the leadership quality of the Orang Ulu community could enhance the culture of the Orang Ulu together with other races in Sarawak.
On the project construction site, where the two-storey Forum building is to be built, Abang Johari described the soon-to-be-home for the Orang Ulu community as a place where they could deliberate for them to look at their future.
“You can’t be static in this era. You have to change and move forward,” he pointed out.
The Forum building will be a symbol of honour for the Orang Ulu community in preserving their culture as well a venue to plan and path for their future.
Abang Johari said that the initiatives to build houses for different ethnic groups in Sarawak had started years ago.
“It had begun during Tun Pehin Sri Taib’s era, followed by the late Pehin Sri Tok Nan and then me,” he said.
“They needed a platform for exchanging ideas, to rationalise in developing and enriching their respective community. So today, I deliver the Orang Ulu’s headquarters,” he said.
On another note, Abang Johari also revealed that during a negotiation with the previous federal government on Sarawak’s intention to impose the State Sales Tax (SST) in Kuala Lumpur, there were some ‘anak Sarawak’ who did not support the idea.
“They kept silent … even, the then Minister of Finance (Lim Guan Eng ) had questioned me on Sarawak’s intention to impose the SST, saying that it would increase cost and affect the investment of the oil and gas sector.
“I told him that it is Sarawak’s right (under the Constitution) to impose the SST,” said the chief minister.
