Protect S’wak from peninsula politics

Minister says West Malaysia’s parochial politics should not be allowed to rear its ugly head here

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he is touched by the racial harmony and religious tolerance enjoyed by Sarawakians.

He said he was proud of the political situation here which he described as being “very relaxed” compared to what was found in West Malaysia.

He said such a situation must be safeguarded against the unhealthy political culture found in West Malaysia.

He went on to say that West Malaysians were narrow-minded in as far as politics and religion were concerned and that their negative political culture must not be allowed into Sarawak. He said he would try to prevent “at all costs” the intrusion of this negative political culture from Peninsular Malaysia into the state.

“I must tell you that actually the 1Malaysia concept originated from Sabah and Sarawak with their political stability and people of different races and religions living harmoniously together.

“I will not allow the Peninsular Malaysia kind of political culture to be brought into Sarawak because it will cause disturbances to the people and pollute the state’s political scenario,” Nazri said.

He said this at a dinner held to welcome him and his senior officers, which was hosted by Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who is also Minister of Public Utilities.

Nazri said Peninsular Malaysia should learn from Sarawak’s form of peace and harmony. The minister also said he was attracted by the state’s development plan, describing it as being properly studied into by the state leaders.

Meanwhile, he said he was happy with the performance of Sarawak MPs who had spoken in parliament about the need to bring more development to the state.

He assured that what were raised and requested by MPs from the state would be taken into consideration, adding that he would visit the state frequently to see to the needs of the local people.

According to him, he had visited almost every part of the state, including travelling by land to see for himself the needs of the state, particularly with regard to infrastructure development.
“I will again visit Sarawak in October and I will go to Ba Kelalan to see what can be done there,” he said.