Najib promises to continue working closely with Adenan to develop Sarawak

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he will continue working closely with Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem to ensure further development and growth of the state.

Najib said the development implemented in Sarawak all this years had been the results of close cooperation between the Barisan Nasional-led state government and the federal government, as well as the district offices, leaders, and the local community.

He also praised the leadership of Adenan who had managed to win the hearts of the people with his personality and friendly approach in just two years after taking the helm of the state government.

"To all, especially the people in the Land of the Hornbill, who are willing to call me 'Apai Besar Malaysia', together with 'Apai Besar Sarawak' (Adenan), we will work in tandem and strive to develop Sarawak, so that it continues to advance strongly," he said in his speech when launching the National Transformation Programme (NTP) Annual Report 2015 live on RTM on Tuesday.

He said Sarawak had also received the largest allocation from the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) overall budget, under the NTP.

Citing the toll-free Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway spanning 1,089 kilometres from Teluk Melano to Lawas, he said the RM16 billion project had opened up much more economic opportunities for areas surrounding the expressway.

He said the initiatives implemented under the programme included the construction of roads, provision of potable water, housing, as well as electricity supply which had benefited more than 1.5 million rural people in Sarawak.

"Now with 24-hour electricity, they can store food in the refrigerator to last longer and enjoy a more comfortable living condition," he said.

Najib said in the last five years, more than 1,000 long houses had been provided the facility.

He said he had also ordered the Kanowit-Song-Kapit road project to be implemented last year, after finding that Kapit did not have proper road connectivity to other areas.

The prime minister said the RM150 million project would benefit nearly 100 thousand residents.

He said that the implementation of the price standardisation programme by subsidising the cost of transporting essential items from suppliers to dealers, had also ensured the price of the items to remain affordable to all groups of people in Sarawak and Sabah.

"For example, the price of 10kg of rice, which used to be RM40 in Ba'kalalan Sarawak, is now priced at RM18, thanks to the subsidy," he said.

Najib also expressed hope that the people of Sarawak would continue giving strong support for the leadership of Adenan in the upcoming Sarawak state election on May 7.

"We pray that the people of Sarawak will give their full support and great success to the leadership of Apai Besar Sarawak.

"We believe the people of Sarawak will choose the BN government, which had done so much for them and the state," he said.

On BN's manifesto for the state election launched this morning, he said it was a comprehensive document clearly outlining the development agenda for Sarawak.

He said the manifesto themed 'Give TeamAdenan A Chance' which comprises 15 action plans and 53 principles, laid out the promises which would be fulfilled by the BN government for the people of Sarawak.

"I see it as a comprehensive undertaking that includes things such as the rights of the people of Sarawak, education, culture, land, affordable housing, entrepreneurship, rural development, women and youths, as well as a better quality of life," he said.