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Chief Minister to all Sarawakians - The Borneo Post Online Berita Sarawak - News 2 Sarawak

Chief Minister to all Sarawakians - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 11:04 AM PST

by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith and Peter Sibon, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 15, 2014, Saturday

Adenan pledges to represent everyone in the state, retain members of present state cabinet

KUCHING: Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem who will succeed Chief Minister Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud has given the assurance that he will be a chief minister to all, including the opposition.

Adenan, who is currently the Special Functions Minister hoped the opposition, despite their political differences, would accept him as the state's chief executive representing all Malaysians, in particular Sarawakians.

The Tanjung Datu assemblyman also told a packed press conference held at the Yayasan Sarawak office here yesterday, that he would retain the present members of the state cabinet.

"I don't believe in changing horses midstream. There is an English saying 'when you are on to something good, you stick to it'. Me and my colleagues in the state cabinet have worked as a team all these years through thick and thin and I believe that we are on to something good. So, why should we change, especially midterm," stressed Adenan.

Adenan said he had learnt from Taib how to govern a multi-racial and multi-religious state like Sarawak.

"I have learned a few things from my predecessor. One being that if you were the chief minister of Sarawak, you are the chief minister of Sarawak. You are not the chief minister only to the Malays or only of the Chinese, or the Ibans, Bidayuhs or Orang Ulu. You are the chief minister to all including those in the opposition," he said.

The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) publicity chief also assured that he would not make any major changes to the state's policies.

However, he added that he had some original ideas which he would keep to himself for the time being.

On the vacant post of the deputy chief minister slotted for the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) following the retirement of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan from politics in 2011, Adenan said the matter would be given due consideration at a later stage.

When asked how long he intends to stay as chief minister, Adenan said he would like to stay for as long as he was required and that he would know when his services were no longer needed.

"As they say in politics, you better jump before you are pushed," he quipped, drawing laughter in the room.

To another question, Adenan stressed that his loyalty to the outgoing chief minister was equal to that shown by PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and PBB senior vice-president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and as such, that issue was never a factor for Taib in naming him as his successor.

"The question of loyalty to the party has never been an essence (to my appointment). Abang Johari and Awang Tengah are as loyal as I am.

" I have known Taib for more than half a century. We went to the same school that is St Joseph in Kuching (both primary and secondary schools) and to the same University of Adelaide, in South Australia. I have always been associated with him. At one time, I was his brother-in-law. But I have parted ways with his sister more than 30 years ago," he disclosed.

Adenan did not believe his close association with Taib had given him the edge over the other candidates.

He pointed out that there was a time, from 2006 to 2010, when he was left out in the political wilderness.

Touching on the announcement of his appointment being made earlier than the scheduled date of on Feb 15, Adenan said there was no basis to the allegation that Taib did so to pre-empt any decision made by the Federal Government on the choice of the new chief minister.

He said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin did not come to Sarawak to persuade Taib to change his mind on his successor.

On the strong support shown by Abang Johari and Awang Tengah which they made public, Adenan said it showed that there was no division within PBB .

Adenan is expected to be sworn in as chief minister on Feb 28, the same day Taib's resignation takes effect.

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KGS introduces new captain to members - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 15 Feb 2014 09:32 AM PST

by Matthew Umpang reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 16, 2014, Sunday

KUCHING: Dr David Sylvester Ling was officially unveiled as the new captain of Sarawak Golf Club (KGS) yesterday.

He was elected in December last year and along with a few other new club management committee members.

All of them, including Dr Ling, were introduced to club members during a prize-giving ceremony of the 2014 Chap Goh Meh Special Golf tournament at the KGS clubhouse.

KGS vice president Dr Mohd Syafiq Abdullah, hoped the new management committee would take the club to greater heights and success as the number one golf course in Sarawak.

"I wish them success and good luck in running this club as they have been given the faith by the very members of this club. I am sure that the club members have made the right decision," he added.

Meanwhile Ling commented in his speech that one of his first tasks would to find the right balance between what the club and its members need.

He cited the rental price of the buggies at the club as a point of contention among members saying he wanted everybody to sit down together to find a solution to the matter.

Apart from that, he would also try to upgrade the club and its course to maintain the club's status as the best in the state.

One of the measures taken by the new management committee was to appoint a golf superintendant to oversee the day to day operations at the club and improve its service.

"We must improve if we want to go forward and remain the best here in Sarawak."said Ling.

KGS will hold several international tournaments this year and one of them is the Chief Minister's Cup youth tournament.

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Lebanon president demands judicial action over &#39;Virgin Mary kiss <b>...</b>

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:28 PM PST

Lebanon's President Michel Sleiman demanded action Friday after a television station aired a photograph of a man kissing a statue of the Virgin Mary and quoting him as saying "she is no longer a virgin."

Sleiman's office said he called on the state prosecutor to "consider what appeared on television yesterday," showing a man called Ali Eitawi kissing a statue of the Virgin and quoting him as making the remark.

Sleiman, himself a Maronite Christian, said the judicial authorities must "take appropriate action" on the matter, without giving further details.

Multifaith Lebanon is considered among the most liberal countries in the Arab world, but its society and institutions are still relatively conservative.

Some 35 percent of its population is Christian and 65 percent Muslim, while there is a tiny number of Jews and members of other faiths, such as Bahais and Buddhists.-AFP

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