The ultimate choice of the people in Sarawak in the 10th State election on polling day on April 16,2011 is to choose a good government. And the choice is between Barisan Nasional with its track record of excellent service, now being reinforced with the philosophy of People First and Performance Now and the opposition, with its rhetoric and unrealistic promises being laced with lies and falsehood.
Generally, the voters can be expected to use their wisdom and maturity to choose Barisan Nasional to ensure that Sarawak will remain in the mainstream of development in the economic transformation that will push it to become a developed State like the rest of the country towards the year 2020 and beyond.
A number of States like Selangor, Pulau Pinang and Kedah, once quite progressive, have not been able to move forward because the people had not thought properly in the choice of their governments. Kelantan under PAS for nearly 30 years remains the most backward state in the country.
The primary concern of Sarawakians as voters must necessarily be to ensure that Sarawak will be in safe hands after the elections. The government that will be formed after the State elections must remain stable and the people regardless of their ethnic origins, religious beliefs and other differences must remain united and co-operative among them and with the new government.
Barisan Nasional remains steadfast with the objective, both at the National and state levels, to move the country and State forward in spite of differences at times. Generally, the component parties have been able to move forward and face all the problems with rationality of common purpose to build Malaysia to become a developed and progressive nation.
Barisan Nasional has a record to show success that gives the component parties the confidence to implement Vision 2020 with the objective to become a developed nation. Its own perception of things are founded on belief and deep understanding of the world and local situation that moves the body of politics and the Rakyat to move in the same rhythm and direction. The component parties remain steadfast with their own values and not to change them with the perception from outside. Obviously, all the criticisms that have been thrown at State and country are based on perception of the West. Barisan Nasional, unlike the opposition with what ever names it gives itself, has a lot of political experience that gives it the strength to face the future.
The year 2011 is an important year for Sarawak and the country as a whole. It marks the first year of the Tenth Malaysia Plan. The State, together with the rest of the nation looks forward with continued vigor and confidence to embark on the implementation of projects in the Tenth Malaysia Plan.
The main thrust of Tenth Malaysia Plan for Sarawak is to create a foundation to transform the State economy from the medium income to high-income and advanced economy by 2020. The growth of the State economy under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, in line with the Economic Transformation Programme, will be private sector-driven.
The Government, on its part, will focus on the role as growth facilitator and provide the basic economic and social infrastructure in order to create environment that is conducive to business and uplift the quality of life of the people. Besides, efforts will also be geared towards improving the industrial infrastructure, transportation networks and logistic system as well as preparing quality human capital, in terms of management skills, technical competencies, creative and innovative human resources to meet the demand of the industries.
The development programmes and projects under the Tenth Malaysia Plan cover both the urban and rural areas to ensure balanced regional development across the State. In the process, it will encourage the participation of the low-income group into the main stream of development. This will be carried out through the various poverty eradication programmes and projects.
Barisan Nasional will work harder to ensure the success of the Tenth Malaysia Plan to pave the way for Sarawak to become a developed State in Malaysia with:
- Balanced and sustainable development,
- High sustainable economic growth,
- Equitable distribution of income, and
- Better quality of life for the people.
Sarawak has been able to achieve the present level of development as a result of the ability of Barisan Nasional to promote unity among the people and manage the resources effectively. This reflects the resilience and strength of the people, social structure and political will.
For Sarawak, the economic transformation from the medium income to High Income Economy towards the year 2020 and beyond is no longer an exercise to restructure the traditional economic sectors such as timber and agro-based industries but to increase the share of the secondary sector, such as value-added activities of timber and agriculture products and tertiary sector, such as transport and communication. More importantly, the transformation must involve the creation of new sources of economic growth, which is not something that can be done within a short period of time but perhaps twenty years or more. This involves the way to develop the people to be skillful in areas of high technology, management as well as making them productive, creative and innovative and disciplined through skilled and semi-skilled trainings.
The development initiative through the implementation of SCORE is a major effort taken by the State to achieve this objective. As Sarawak is being blessed with rich natural resources, it has to focus on industries that will best complement its inherent strength. In this regard, the development of huge renewable hydro energy, in the long run, will transform Sarawak to become a power house to drive the economy of the State and the nation towards the next century.
Sarawak, with large land mass of unique terrain and well conserved tropical rainforests, complimented by its rich culture diversity, offer great potentials for tourism. Besides, Sarawak with its vastness and long coast line has great economic potential for agro and food based and fishery industries.
In this connection, Sarawak is opening up one million hectares of oil palm in areas contiguous of each other in the State. The development of oil palm plantations should be able to enhance the potentials for related downstream processing industries, now being concentrated in Tanjung Manis. The value added downstream activities will be able to enhance the potential of Sarawak as the major Halal hub in this region.
Besides, Sarawak has embarked on establishing forest plantations with Acacia trees to meet the requirement of Pulp and Paper industry on a sustainable basis. It has a plan to set up the industry each in Samarakan, Baram, Kapit and Betong. The international rating agencies, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s have both affirmed the State’s credit rating at Baa1 with Positive outlook and A- with Stable outlook, respectively. Local rating agencies, both RAM and MARC also maintained State’s credit rating at AAA, with Stable outlook.
These are commendable investment-grade credit ratings that indicate the State’s sound financial position and effective financial and fiscal management. This is another benchmark in assessing the effectiveness of the State’s financial management and discipline in managing the resources.
It is very critical for Sarawak to sustain the commendable investment-grade credit ratings in order to command the confidence among international investors to invest and participate actively in its development. Only Barisan Nasional can continue to provide the leadership to maintain political stability and racial harmony that can attract foreign investment to Sarawak.
The opposition, which cannot even forge a united front in the current election, is certain to bring chaos and instability to Sarawak, as happened in Perak. Worse, it did the most unthinkable thing like having a meeting of the State Legislative Assembly under a tree.
More importantly, continuous efforts must be made to enhance and strengthen the social and economic policies, budgetary discipline, prudent and conservative financial management and above all, political stability in the State to ensure that the State sustained commendable credit ratings.
The State Elections should not be considered as the time to play politics and speak whatever comes to the mouth without thinking of the consequences to the community. Instead the elections should be considered as the time to choose people that relate to future progress and advancement of the State and country. The people must elect the right leaders to ensure that the state will have uninterrupted development and progress. Otherwise, the progress and development of the state will be interrupted or come to the standstill if they choose wrong leaders. Basically, election is not purely popularity contest but it is the opportunity for ordinary people to elect representatives, who can deliver on their promises to give greater progress and prosperity to them and higher prosperity to their children.
benuasains
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