KUCHING: The outstanding work in the devolution of powers between federal government and Sarawak government will not be affected with the appointment of Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg as the new Chief Minister.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri explained this was because Abang Johari himself is leading the Technical Committee on the matter from Sarawak.

“Our new CM has been tasked to lead the Technical Committee (prior to his appointment as chief minister). Therefore, he is very much on his toes on what the committee has been working on.

“He, too, has been working closely with the late chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem. Hence, he definitely knows what the late CM aspired to achieve. We have been fortunate as Sarawak leaders have always worked closely with each other,” she said yesterday.

It had been reported in the media last December that the second phase of the state’s devolution of power was to be discussed by the technical committee.

According to media reports, these priority issues (finance, oil exploration, mining and gas, and land and revenue from land) are at the advanced stage of negotiation by the state and federal officers in the technical committee.

On a related matter, Nancy said development is one area that Sarawak is still far behind from many states.

“We have to work hard on rural infrastructure for Sarawak. This is our real challenge, if our rural areas are well connected then our people will improve economically. One thing for sure is that, Sarawak has been working closely with federal and we have always had good support from the federal.

“My sincere hope is to see Sarawak progress and catch up with development in the peninsula. We must work for all communities in Sarawak. We all love Sarawak and our people. It is our wish to see Sarawakians improve their livelihood and to continue as a harmonious state,” she said.

On Abang Johari’s appointment as Sarawak’s sixth chief minister, Nancy believed he was capable of carrying on Adenan’s good work.

“Being a senior minister and senior party member, I am certain that he can perform his full responsibility as a fair and a just leader. He has served Sarawak ever since the previous three chief ministers and the main ingredient for a Sarawak leader is to be a leader for a multi-racial and multi religious society.

“In Sarawak, no one race can monopolise politics. Our political formula has always been multi ethnic,” she said.