KUCHING: Sarawakians are fortunate that the state has immigration autonomy which has shielded the people from undesirable elements from outside.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this in regards particularly to elements professing racial and religious bigotry.

“Our immigration power is our right as enshrined in the Federal Constitution which no one can take away from us.

“I not only say it here because I have pointed this out to the Steering Committee on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) chaired by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that our immigration autonomy is a right that is not open to any negotiation,” he said.

His text-of-speech was read by Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah at the opening of the Interfaith Harmony Forum, held in conjunction with the state-level World Interfaith Harmony Week at Islamic Information Centre (IIC) here yesterday.

Abang Johari pointed out that the people in Sarawak are also fortunate to inherit a statehood that is naturally diverse in cultural heritage and religious practices.

“Since the early years, Sarawak has been a meeting point for civilisation from both the East and West, not to mention that from the Malay Archipelago itself. For hundreds or maybe thousands of years, we have always regarded traders, merchants and people from China, India and the western world as our friends and partners.

“I believe that this sort of interaction has somehow moulded Sarawakians to become people who are peace loving and are able to accept others in their midst.”

The chief minister stressed that the people must continue to build bridges amongst themselves as Sarawak needs her people to be united and to be developed economically.

“We must not fall into the trap of dwelling on our differences, but rather we must celebrate our diversity and draw strength from our various racial and religious backgrounds.

“After all, a monochrome or mono colour is monotonous, but a kaleidoscope of colours is always pleasing to the eye,” he said in imparting some words of wisdom.

On that note, he assured that the Sarawak government will continue to look for ways to bring in more revenue to give back to the people – in the form of infrastructure and facilities development such as building of good, comfortable churches and temples.

“Although we now have a bit of extra revenue from the imposition of five per cent sales tax on petroleum and gas products for export, we cannot afford to waste our resources at the expense of the rakyat, especially our rural people who are very much in need of good roads, electricity and water supplies.

“We have been spending prudently all these years and that’s why we have a strong reserve. We are not spending this reserve to develop our infrastructure and it is there to stay as part of our strong economic fundamentals.”

On the forum, which was jointly organised by the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN) Sarawak and IIC, Abang Johari hoped that more similar programmes can be organised in the future to further strengthen the prosperity and unity among the communities in Sarawak and the country as a whole.

Themed ‘Love of God, Love of Neighbour’, the forum aimed to serve as a platform to strengthen interfaith understanding among the multi-racial communities in the state and strengthen harmony among religious bodies through programmes and activities that impart respect, tolerance and acceptance of other religions.

Also present at the press conference were Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus, Assistant Minister of Industries and Investment Malcolm Mussen, Unifor director Datu Dr Ngenang Janggu and IIC chief executive officer Zabariah Matali.