26 Apr 2024, 15:44 Kuching
26 Apr 2024, 08:44 London
The state government’s unrelenting commitment to rural development as expounded by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem will augur well for the natives of Sarawak who remain unwavering in their beliefs, hope and expectations that their livelihood will be improved with higher income, better job opportunities and more efficient public service in rural areas across the state.
In fact, said Malcolm Mussen Lamoh (BN-Batang Ai), the move appeared not to go well with DAP as the initiatives would adversely undermine the opposition party’s desperate ‘Impian Sarawak’ campaign.
According to him, the body language, tone of voice and use of words by the party’s chairman Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) were sufficient to convince any Dayak that he (Chong) was not sincere with his theatrics in the august House.
“In any case, actions speak louder than words and so far, DAP has done nothing commendable for Dayaks other than pulling some Dayaks’ legs here and there.
New Chief Minister in Sarawak Adenan, rather likes to suggest that all is for the best, now that he is in the Chief Minister’s chair. In that context he has recently been speaking about his “unrelenting commitment to rural transformation”. One supposes that he feels he must provide continuity with the record of his predecessor and now governor Abdul Taib Mahmud.
The latter “transformed” rural Sarawak by cutting down, for personal profit, 95% of Sarawak’s tropical forests and replacing them with oil palm plantations worked by imported slave labour. Or by mega dams producing unsaleable electricity.
Is that what Adenan means by BN’s rural transformation? If so there is very little scope for doing even worse than his predecessor. The amusing, and baffling thing about this statement is that he claims that his plans (whatever they may actually be) will produce “higher incomes, better jobs and more efficient public services”
Unfortunately he does not explain how any of that can happen. Not surprising; because it cannot.
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