Undoubtedly, Sarawak has been pursuing socio – economic development actively since the leadership of the late Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub (Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Ya’kub, the third Chief Minister of Sarawak from 1970 to 1980 and the fourth Governor of Sarawak).
He could have done much more except for the fact that he had to fight against the communist insurgencies, which had been posing serious security threat in Sibu, Kanowit, Sarikei and Bintangor in areas, which made huge areas once under the administration of Third Division in the 70s and early 80s.
Many innocent people, comprising farmers, rubber tappers and civil servants were killed together with dozen of security personnel. Hence, the Third Division had to be administered under the Special Security command known as Rajang Security Command based in Sibu.
Some areas in Tapah, Beratok and Siburan then in First Division were also affected by the communists’ security threat with the ultimate objective to rule Sarawak as a communist state.
The overall communists’ threat abetted with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Communists and the State Government under Tun Abdul Rahman in Sri Aman in October 1978.
The Yang di Pertua Negeri, Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud during a lecture under the series “Syarahan Negarawan” organized by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in Kuala Lumpur said as Tun Abdul Rahman’s immediate successor since 26 March 1981, he had to make efforts with politics of Development as the philosophy of development to continue with the his leadership to jumpstart development as Sarawak then was still in the back water of development and progress.
Personally, he had been preoccupied with the idea that Sarawak must run faster than other states in order to catch up with their progress and advancement. Then the rate of poverty in the state was about 60% and unemployment among the people especially youth in villages and longhouses were very high. The demographic pattern of the State was about 80% rural and 20% urban.
To him politics in Sarawak, like those in the rest of the country, must be based on sincere desire to achieve something to fulfill independence with good economic growth and development that can bring positive changes to the people.
In this regards, whatever political views that the people entertain, they must agree, as a matter of principle, on the question of development. It should be time for them to stop with petty politics and instead work together on matters of development for the overall progress and prosperity of the people and the State.
Tun Abdul Taib, after serving 13 years in the Federal Cabinet in various capacities, said politics of development had served as the basis of his struggle because the other forms of politics, with a lot of rhetoric or worse empty talks, do not bring any benefits, development benefits in particular to the people, state and country.
Therefore, efforts must be made to reduce politicking among the people because, in any political fights, it is the people who get confused the most, their line of thinking and attitude will be distracted.
He is happy that politics that brings about arguments and those that do not have objectives are not popular in Sarawak. The people all understand that Sarawak must pursue politics that can formulate good policies that cover all communities not only the Malays or the Bumiputra groups but also the non Bumiputra communities for greater progress and prosperity ahead.
Tun Abdul Taib believes it is not difficult for Sarawak to restructure its economy with the present trend of development. However, it needs continuous efforts between the government and the people, who must know which direction they are heading in development, those in their own areas in particular in the future.
Generally, the relationship between government officers and the people and community leaders in implementing the development program is good. For example, the relationship between Ketua Ketua Kaum (community chiefs) and the people in their respective Kampong or the relationship between a Penghulu and the people in a longhouse, in the context of Sarawak, is being well looked after.
He said this has become a good channel to give advice to children in choosing courses that they should pursue for their secondary education and how they can find jobs that they are inclined to after completing their studies. This should be carried out this out as socio-political program, which should not bring many problems but need good grass root leadership.
IN this connection, the roles of elected representatives of the people namely Members of Parliament and State Legislative Assembly must be oriented from time to time to the prevailing need and requirements. Their relationship should not be focused to socio-political program but the overall program of the development of the economy.
Tun Abdul Taib said the process may take time and a lot of efforts to be put in, in order to move forward. However, with the prevailing political stability, with many political problems being left to efforts of political parties even at the level of branches and the complicated ones being left to leaders, efforts can be focused on the implementation of the new socio-political program.
He believed more electricity based industries will come up and spread fast once there are demands for them. For example, Bintulu has already attracted certain industries, which do not provide employment opportunities but create certain forms of economy that can expand their activities.
This is a healthy development but it will take time and efforts to restructure subjects being taught in schools, which still follow the old methods of teaching. For example in Sarawak, there are needs for the growth of schools that provide technical training as the knowledge and skills will be more relevant with most of the development programs that have been planned for implementation.
The new requirements should not become controversial as long as early preparations of at least one generation must be made before the good polices on education are to be implemented.
For example, some ethnic groups like the Bidayuhs and others have been experiencing a change in their work pattern, they can find jobs which they should take; they have a good interaction and discussion among them.
Tun Abdul Taib said relevant information that can motivate the people, school children in particular to make preparations to take opportunities that will come up through the process of development, must be given out when talking about socio-economic development or poverty in particular.
He believes there is a need to study with a view to restructure the free education system, which is still being considered as efforts of rural development in the country. The new system, for example, could encourage working women to teach ways, for example, how to make handicrafts, cakes, foods or clothing, which almost reaches the limit of what the system can do.
Therefore, efforts must be made, for example, how to formulate pre-education system with the primary objective to involve many volunteers comprising party members, Non- governmental organizations, who can to adapt to ways the people should think in finding good educational opportunities and pursue courses that will be required for the future development of the economy.
The migration to towns happens in any developing countries with the change of the economy. Therefore, a strategy has to be formulated how to use the people, who migrate to towns, can work in semi urban areas. In this regards, the people must adapt to a better development of the economy and a more harmonious and peaceful social development.
Besides, efforts to encourage rural people to work in semi urban areas must get the support from the industries like in Bintulu, Miri, Mukah and others. Besides, such efforts must also get the encouragement and direction from the Government, especially in attracting people, who look for jobs relevant to their knowledge and skills.
He said this is how the people in Sarawak work in preparing for the flow of the economy in synergy with the realization of opportunities and making efforts to get the support of the people.
Tun Abdul Taib, who retired from politics in February 2014 after 51 years of service, is happy to see there are fewer arguments and quarrels among the people because discussions have been focusing more on development rather than other issues.
Generally, the people, who vote for the Government, want to ensure that the economy will grow and the educational and employment opportunities are assured for young people. And they know only the leadership with clear objective to bring about greater progress and prosperity to people and the State.
Besides, the Government has established network to disseminate relevant information on development policies even when talking about politics to rebut issues being raised by the oppositions, who tend to shout to the top of their voices especially in the run up to the election. Generally, the people ignore them.
Tun Abdul Taib said the diverse culture is being enriched by traditional items or activities that are being liked or favored by the people in Sarawak. The favorite dance is the traditional long dance of the Orang Ulu community and not those of the Malays of other communities. The traditional dance of the Orang Ulu is both very graceful and attractive.
He said a lot of the cultural items of the ethnic groups can be enjoyed by the people depending on their ambient or settings. For example Pesta Kaul, which is based on the way the Melanau community celebrates or gives thank to God for the success that they have made and sustained, has increasingly become very popular in the State because of the ambient.
The Pesta Benak or festival of the waves has also become very popular in Sri Aman Division, thanks to vigorous efforts of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, former Deputy Chief Minister, to promote it.
The festival, held annually, brings the people of all races to come together not only to celebrate it to interact and share information relating to business and employment opportunities among them.
They also share information regarding the socio –economic direction ahead of them, the educational opportunities including the specialization of a school and employment opportunities that will come up in future.
The people of Sarawak, over the years, have been experiencing phenomenal changes; even people, who have been afraid of change, now accept it as a way of life. Generally, they accept the fact that there is no way they can achieve higher standards of living without economic changes. On the other hand, if they look upon changes as betrayal of the past then they may not see progress at all.
