KUCHING: Sarawak has many leaders and administrators who are capable of governing the state without interference from outsiders.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said for many years Sarawak has received good financial management rating from international rating agencies such as Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, and this was affirmed by the audit department in its reports.
“Our prudent financial management proves that our own people (Sarawakians) are capable in administering our own state affairs,” said Awang Tengah at the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources Gawai Raya dinner here on Wednesday night.
Awang Tengah, who is also State Industrial and Entrepreneur Development Minister, said to say Sarawak will go bankrupt in next three years is untrue and mere political game played by the opposition to discredit the state government.
He was alluding to the recent statement by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng that Sarawak will go bankrupt in three years if the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) state government continues with its RM11 billion annual budget.
Awang Tengah called on Sarawakians to give their full support to Chief Minsiter Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Abang Johari has many plans with which to help Sarawakians and these include building of infrastructure projects, land reforms, extension of new resettlement schemes and villages, and modern farming.
To the ministry’s staff, he said, “We may have good policies but if we are weak in implementing them, then we are not being effective.
“We must have good policies and we must be effective implementers,” he said.
Awang Tengah presented excellent service awards to seven ministry staffs, two retired members and three others who were transferred to other departments.
Also present at the function were Assistant Minister for Urban Development and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Permanent Secretary of the Urban Development and Natural Resources Ministry Datuk Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, Special Function Administrative Officer Lt General (R) Datuk Stephen Mundaw.
