KUCHING: The meeting between the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Monday was centred on how best the state could have “the same direction” with the policy of the federal government.
Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who accompanied Taib during the meeting, stressed yesterday it was the state’s top priority to have polices that were in sync with that of the federal government’s.
“The meeting was very important to see how the state could move forward in line with the federal government’s policies,” Awang Tengah told a press conference after presenting the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation’s (STIDC) donation to welfare homes and bodies at STIDC headquarters here.
During the ceremony, the minister presented donations to 48 organisations.
Among those present at the function were Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Planning and Resource Management Datu Wan Alwi, STIDC general manager Datu Serudu Hoklai, STIDC deputy general manager Hashim Bojet and STIDC’s board of directors.
On a separate issue, Awang Tengah, who is a senior vice-president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), said the next state election was not discussed during the meeting with Najib.
The state election has become a hot issue in the political circle as there were speculations that it could be held anytime soon.
The current term of the State Legislative Assembly expired in July next year.
The last state election was held in May 2006, with the Barisan Nasional (BN) capturing 62 of the 71 seats.
When asked whether the Sarawak United People’s Party’s (SUPP’s) intention to pull out from the BN was discussed during the meeting, Awang Tengah said it was not.
“For that you have to ask SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan when he comes back from overseas,” he said.
SUPP was under pressure from the Chinese community to seek among others, better deal for land titles and more funding for Chinese education.
