KUCHING: Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg is wasting no time in promoting tourism in Sarawak, particularly here, after he was tasked to take the Tourism and Heritage Ministry under his wings.
One of his immediate plans was to transform 12 traditional Malay villages along Seberang Hilir under the Pantai Damai and Samariang seats into a more organised and vibrant place to live in and visit.
Although the portfolio is temporary until the state Cabinet’s reshuffle which is expected to take place after the State Legislative Assembly sitting in mid-June, Johari is no stranger to the tourism sector.
After all, he was the Tourism Minister between September 2000 and June 2004 and during his tenure, among others, he managed to get direct air links to several European destinations and Federal funding to build a waterfront along Kampung Seberang Hilir.
Johari, who is also Housing and Urban Development Minister, said he thus needed the people’s continuous support.
Tourism would also play a key role in providing more employment opportunities for the young generation, he said.
“Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud told me this on Thursday, ‘Abang Jo, this is the sector that will give spin off to the economy particularly in the city’.
“My reply was ‘God willing, I will make Kuching just like Venice in Italy. We’ll get more cruise boats for Sarawak River and attract more honeymooners. And when there are many visitors, our layered-cakes and handicraft sales will also increase’,” Johari said at the Samariang PBB’s election appreciation dinner here on Friday night.
After the first post-election state Cabinet meeting last Thursday, Taib had announced that Johari would be taking over the ministry from Tan Sri Dr George Chan who lost in the April 16 election.
tunku : abang jo has done slendid job both in housing and tourism ministry.he had proven with his track record.we hope abang jo would be given finance or planning ministry so that he would be more prepared as the new sarawak cm when taib resign. abang jo had vast experience and seen as clean leader without issues. the future of sarawak will be more dynamic under his leadership.he had been a very loyal deputy all these while and deserved to be the next CM.
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