SARAWAK needs to continue to preserve and prioritise unity and racial harmony without setting aside the sanctity of Islam, Premier Abang Johari Openg said.

He said division due to racial issues would only harm Sarawak, which will celebrate its 60 years of independence on July 22.

“It (unity) is a crucial foundation for a society to move forward. After 60 years of independence, Sarawak has the potential to become a high-income and developed state by 2030,” he said.

Abang Johari was speaking at the Imam As-Syafi’i International Seminar, organised by the Sarawak Mufti Department, at Borneo Convention Centre in Kuching today.

He said although there were times when Sarawak people, who are made up of different races and religions, had differences in terms of opinion, the matter had never resulted in a major conflict.

“This is what we need… to look after each other, and it is important that we understand religion through the right and proper channels,” he said.

The seminar, themed “Sustainability of Fiqh As-Syafi’i in Driving the Prosperity of the Ummah”, brought together 1,300 participants from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Jordan and Yemen. – Bernama, May 18, 2023.