COMMENT | Sarawak builds first, Putrajaya to refund later

COMMENT | Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg must be in a pretty good mood of late. Why not, when his Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government just scored a resounding victory in the election three weeks ago.

When the leader is happy, he can be very generous too.

And that brings me to this “make-believe” happy episode: The morning after the GPS’ victory, Dr Sim Kui Hian made an early call to his boss, Abang Johari.

“Good morning, sir. Congrats on your maiden victory in Gedong. Aha, I didn’t do too badly in Batu Kawah too”, Sim, the SUPP president and second-time Batu Kawah victor, greeted the chief minister, tongue-in-cheek too.

Sensing that the boss was in an enthusiastic mood, Sim got straight to the point of his early morning call.

“Sir, I have been thinking of our proposed Sarawak Cancer Centre a lot. I believe this project should be given priority, and the uncertainties and instability of the federal government are not helping.

“Seriously, I would like to proceed with this project without having to wait much longer. As the former prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, has given the go-ahead earlier, can Sarawak proceed to build the cancer hospital with our own funds first?” Sim sounded to Abang Johari, who is also the finance minister.

When money is needed, who do you approach? The money man, of course!