A new volume of book, based on the compilation of speeches of the Yang di Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, has been printed and will soon be available to the public at relevant outlets. The book with the title “Smooth Transfer of Power, Sarawak Way” put into perspective events leading to the transfer of power by Tun Abdul Taib, who had served as the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak for 33 years from March 26, 1981 to February 28, 2014. The 458-book, apart from containing speeches of Tun Abdul Taib after making a formal announcement of his decision to step down on January 20, 2014, also contains those of his former colleagues namely his successor, the late Datuk Patinggi Haji Adenan Satem, the speaker, Datuk Amar Haji Awang Asfia Awang Nassar and others. Of course, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib, who was also the President of PBB, the backbone of Barisan Nasional Sarawak, had already hinted to his party members at various levels, of his decision to retire from politics after giving more than half a century of his life to serving the people, state and country.
Unavoidably, the book contains pictures of the historical events, texts of speeches in preparing the people for his pending retirement after spending more than 51 years of his life to the public service, since the early age of 27 years, serving in various capacities as a Deputy Public Prosecutor, State Cabinet Minister for five years in the first post Independent State government, Deputy Minister and full Cabinet Minister holding various portfolios in Federal Government.
This book also reproduces the transcribed text of Pehin Sri Abdul Taib’s speech during the launching of the State – level Sejiwa Senada (One heart one soul) program in Serian on March 19,2011, where he declared that the 13th State Election in April 2011 would be the last one to be led by him; as the situation settled down he would hand over to the new team. Generally, the party members including leaders, after persuading him to stay on for awhile, reluctantly accept his decision.
Then Pehin Sri Abdul Taib, after serving Sarawak for nearly half a century, felt it was time for him to retire. There will be changes and he wants the people, who take over from him to be given the necessary training. Pehin Sri Abdul Taib attributed the smooth transfer of power to the right attitude and sincere understanding of the people, who are united among them and ready to work hard to improve their own well being. This spirit, attitude and dedication of the people, the leaders in particular were amply demonstrated during the changeover of leadership.
He said his choice of Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Adenan Haji Satem as his successor was because Adenan represented a kind of agreement between the three candidates to make sure that the State would keep the team spirit that had existed among them over the last 30 years. These people are not strangers to each other and they know how much they can trust each other. Pehin Sri Abdul Taib said the close relationship extends to all other Ministers.
In this regards, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Adenan Satem, with the established policies that have been developed together, can keep the momentum of fast development for Sarawak towards the year 2020 and beyond. The transfer of power did not precede lots of speculation, assumption and rumors like those happening in Perlis, Perak, Terengganu and lately in Kedah, though not as dramatic as the change of power in Perak.
The event in Perak saw even the Chair of Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly was subjected to bitter row between Barisan Nasional and the socalled Pakatan Rakyat to such an extent that legislators of Pakatan Rakyat convened their assembly under a tree at the Padang of Ipoh Municipal Council. That was the classic example of ugly, disorderly and chaotic transfer of power in the country. Tun Abdul Taib, who is very modest about his success of transforming Sarawak from a back water of development to become one of the fastest growing economies in the region, says the smooth transfer of power is the good luck of Anak Sarawak Rakyat Malaysia.
He said the smooth transfer has been possible due to conscientious efforts that have put in to prepare the people, his successor in particular, for the eventuality. The decision to pass the baton of leadership to Tan Sri Adenan was conveyed to him at the Holy Land while both of them were performing their Pilgrimage or journey of faith. He said the progress and development being achieved in Sarawak has been brought about by unity and solidarity of the people in spite of differences in ethnic groups and other backgrounds. They all share the common objective to raise their standard of living through their own initiatives and efforts.
The success has made Sarawak second to none among other states in Malaysia. The people regardless of whether they are Malays, Chinese, Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu and others all realize that the progress that has been achieved is the success of unity and solidarity of the Rakyat. The people, in spite of their diversity, all share the same objective of wanting to be successful and prepared to share opportunities that are available so that all of them can enjoy a bit of comfort in life. Tun Abdul Taib said he could sense the aspiration of the people through his visits throughout the length and breadth of Sarawak as a member of the post – Independent State Cabinet for five years, as Assistant and Federal Minister for 13 years and Chief Minister for 33 years.
Generally, the people yearn for the State to become more progressive and successful for the benefits of all communities.
Every Sarawakian deserves whatever the government tries to achieve for Sarawak. Today the development and progress has started to reach almost all corners of Sarawak. Tun Abdul Taib admitted of being a bit worried, when he took over as the Chief Minister of Sarawak on March 26, 1981, of his ability to bring development to the people, who had been looking forward for it in Ulu Baram and Ulu Kapit.
He is happy that they are starting to enjoy some forms of development in their areas. However, he would not regard the current development and progress as his initiatives and efforts as human being alone. The people are sincere, united among them and ready to work hard to improve their own well being. Undoubtedly, the current progress and development of Sarawak is due to the good luck of the people of Sarawak.
Tun Abdul Taib said the smooth transfer of leadership truly reflected the spirit, attitude and dedication of leaders in serving the welfare and interests of the people and the overall the progress and development of Sarawak.
He assured, from his own personal experience, none of the Chief Ministers ever thought of helping their own communities only. Right from the beginning whether it was Ningkan (Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the first Chief Minister, or DatoTawi Sli, the second Chief Minister or Tun Abdul Rahman( Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Ya’kub), the third Chief Minister ever thought of helping their own communities only.
Their common concern were for the people, who comprise of various ethnic and religious groups in Sarawak. Tun Abdul Taib personally believed that 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.
He had been pursuing this line of politics in the form of the politics of development that has 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. He had been able to learn two things namely racial and extreme religious practices and politics that tend to divide the people must be fought by all people.
They cannot be compromised as the development of the future cannot afford to accommodate negative elements. Tun Abdul Taib believed the future of Sarawak, from his experience, knowledge and understanding of the people and local environment, towards the year 2030 and beyond is bright and very promising for the people, the new generations in particular. More importantly, he believed that Sarawak will continue to have the leadership that will bring Sarawak to greater height of harmony, peace and prosperity towards the year 2030 and beyond.
Undoubtedly, the success that Sarawak has been able to make to lift itself from the backwater of development to become a full – fledged State in Malaysia can serve as a strong foundation to turn Sarawak into a modern industrial State for the next 50 years. Rightly, the process must begin with the team of the second generation being led by the Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Openg to turn Sarawak to become a more successful state with the ability to increase its prosperity and safeguard the unity of the people comprising of various ethnic and religious groups.
Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, in his speech during a special gathering on July 22 to mark Sarawak’s Independence from Whitehall, believed the new leaders, with the experience that they had gathered, would be able to look after Sarawak well. However, a greater challenge ahead is to prepare the society to cope with the changes and challenges of an industrial society.
Hence more people must be prepared to assume greater responsibility in whatever they do. Besides, more young people must pursue technical education and training in institutions of higher learning. His Excellency could still recall when he took over the helm of the State government as the Chief Minister on March 26,1981 his immediate worry was whether he could have the opportunity to develop places like Ulu Baram and Ulu Kapit. He is grateful to be given the opportunity to see the beginning of Baram and Kapit to become parts of the progressive and prosperous State. He believes the present leaders, who are more familiar with the thinking of the younger generation, will be able to attract more young people time to serve the state in order to realize its full potentials. Tun Abdul Taib says, in all humility, Sarawak will not only attain the status of a developed State with high income economy by the year 2030 but has the potential to become the richest State in the country.
He has no doubt in the future of Sarawak as a leading state in the country by then. Therefore, the people should have determination to serve with greater vigor and confidence in developing Sarawak to become a leading State in the country. Then it will not only benefit the people but contribute towards the betterment of the country in the world. In the process, Sarawak will not only pick up prosperity but move forward to take an important place in the country, a successful federation that it helped to form 50 years ago.
That should continue to be the common struggle of the people for Sarawak, Malaysia as a whole. Browse great content about HTML coding in our blog section. You will find great tips on how to implement user-friendly features in your website.
