CHIEF Minister Abang Johari Openg said the Sarawak’s relationship with the Pakatan Harapan-ruled federal government is not “a big obstacle” in its pursuit of being a developed state by 2030.

Sarawak is ruled by a coalition of four former Barisan Nasional parties that have been reconstituted as Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). They are not part of the PH coalition.

Despite anger over Putrajaya’s policies concerning the state, irritations over its demands for more autonomy and return of eroded rights, to tricky issues like a bigger share of revenue for oil and gas resources, the chief minister said the relationship is still manageable.

In a special interview to mark his third year in office today, he said his past ties with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had put him in good stead.

“You must remember, I have served Dr Mahathir,” said Abang Johari, who was assistant minister during Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s term in 1987, referring to Dr Mahathir’s first term as prime minister from 1981 to 2003.

Abang Johari said there was no reason Sarawak cannot be ruled by a non-PH party, as Putrajaya respects the concept of federalism.

“We can govern on our own if we (Sarawak and Putrajaya) can work within the concept of a federation.

“I am not talking about independence. (I am talking) in terms of governing within the context of a federation.”

Therefore, he said concerns about decentralisation will always arise.

“There must be a certain decentralisation.”

Abang Johari said decentralisation, with the central government shedding powers to states or provinces, has been successful in countries such as Germany, Italy and even communist China.

He added that Sarawak would be better administered “by people who know its needs”.

Reflecting on the new political landscape brought about by the May 2018 general election, Abang Johari said he was satisfied – “to a certain extent” – with his administration’s achievements since the death of former chief minister Adenan Satem.

“We have fulfilled what we have set out to do.

“In terms of our direction, (it) is clear and the people are accepting what we should do for the future.

“What is important is Sarawak is in good hands. Our policies are in tune with what the people want,” he said. 

“In terms of basic policies, I am very satisfied.”

He listed the support his government received from the people and civil service as some of his biggest achievements thus far.

This is especially rewarding in rural areas, where support for the government remains high despite its “new approach” in the implementation of its rural transformation programme (RTP), he said.

“Our RTP is no longer top-down. The government no longer dishes out projects to people that it thinks should have them.

“It’s down-up. The people request what they want.

“Then, we study them. When we feel that it should be done, we do it.”

Abang Johari said funds from the government’s “revenue re-engineering” exercise have also enabled the government to meet many requests, mainly for basic infrastructure, from rural folk.

He cited one of the results of the exercise, that is, the formation of the state-owned Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS).

He established DBOS after studying Japan and Germany’s rise to becoming economic superpowers from the ashes of war, and the transformation of neighbouring Singapore.

He said the one common factor they had was a development bank.

“Japan was in deep trouble after the war. Similarly, Germany.

“The thing that changed economic development in Japan was the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Germany, the World Bank.

“These two banks provided funding to redevelop these two countries.”

Similarly, he said DBOS would provide the government with alternative funding to support its strategic long-term projects – roads, bridges, water supply, electricity supply – that “will transform our targeted areas”. – January 13, 2020.