Sunday February 24, 2013

CM: Barisan has brought about great progress

KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has called upon the business community to go in sync with the government’s developmental plans to ensure that their ventures continue to prosper.

According to him, the government had plenty of development in the pipeline that would benefit existing businesses in old Kuching, adding that it had also enlightened many of those who had misunderstood the government before this.

“I know that some people think we (government) are not recognised as the bringer of change. The reason is simple — when we talk about change, we also talk about the problems that come together with it.

“Others just complain about the problems without trying to bring about the change themselves. So we take the bad as well as the good in order to make this country become better,” he said during the Plaza Merdeka Holdings, India Street Pedestrian Mall and Kuching City Centre Community Chinese New Year dinner here on Friday night.

Taib said the government had also brought changes to the people over the last 50 years.

“People talk about change. Yes, I have not changed in terms of my ambition to be better, but I think I’ve changed a great deal in the way how I want to achieve a better me and also a better Sarawak.

“Those of you who read the newspapers probably do not associate me with change. In fact some may feel that it is a nuisance with me being the chief minister because I bring about a lot of changes.

“We (government) want better drainage, more greenery and smoother traffic flow. We want hawkers to trade in orderly manner instead of conducting it by the roadside.

“All these are part of the government’s ambitions. Of course, we have to face the opposition by many initially, which made us the bad guys,” he said.

However, Taib reminded that with the transformation brought about by the government, it was still up to the people to change in terms of their mindset.

He stressed that the best change should come from the inside and the people must make an effort to work for these changes so that the core objective would be fulfilled.

“I say we in Barisan Nasional have brought the change. Although many may not realise or appreciate it, what we do is that we think about how the changes would affect and improve the people’s livelihood.

“If it is for the better, we will take it even though in the short run people may not agree. But if it is bad for the people, by all means we will avoid it,” said Taib.

He said over the last 50 years that Barisan had been in power, it should already have the experience to know what was best for the people.

Moreover, he said for these chances to take effect, the government had implemented it by stages and ensured that everybody understood the policy and idea.

Stressing that changes could not happen overnight, Taib urged the people to understand that it was a difficult task to spread the ideas as some might oppose against it.

“That is how we run the government and bring about change because our country was poor at one time and we did not have enough power to propel ourselves.

“I think throughout the 50 years we have enough time to reflect on the changes that have taken place. Some may not agree with them, but work around it and see. I believe I can claim that Kuching now is a far better place than it was 50 years ago. I can also claim that the city is much more sophisticated in taking in changes — otherwise it would have created a lot of disharmony,” said Taib.

The Chief Minister underlined that if everybody understood what the Barisan government had been doing over the years, the people would have a better livelihood.

“You know that we have been fighting for you, even if you spit at us behind our backs. This is our duty and we would like to continue to do this because we know our children and grandchildren will have far better lives than we had.

“Let the next 50 years be the era when we will achieve not only a developed Sarawak but also equality and prosperity for all,” he said.

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Sunday February 24, 2013

CM: Barisan has brought about great progress