PADAWAN (Sarawak), May 4- Barisan Nasional has a proven history of being non-partisan in governing people of different religious beliefs, Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, said here, today.
He said this stand had enabled the BN government to win the confidence of people of all religions for being able to apply good values of all faiths to form a strong bond of cooperation among them.
“From the Federal government right up to the State government, the people’s support all this while has shown that Barisan Nasional can be trusted with power, not abusing power, and guided by the principle of justice and equality,” he said when speaking to declare open a new mosque, Masjid Darul Iman, at Kampung Sri Arjuna here.
The program was part of his campaign trail in the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency, where Barisan Nasional new face, Rubiah Wang, is facing PAS candidate, Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus in this 13th General Election (GE13).
Abdul Taib, who is also the State BN chairman, said under the coalition’s rule, Muslims were able to work together with non-muslims by respecting each others to enable peace and stability to prevail.
On his brief stop at Kampung Sri Arjuna, he said the place was quite instrumental for him as it was there where he started his campaign en route to winning the Samarahan seat for the first time in 1969.
Taib held the seat for nine consecutive terms until 2008 and gave way for his son, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman, to contest and won in the 12th general election. He said the people in the village led by their headman, Penghulu Dollah
Sabri Wongso, whom he described as his friend, had been solidly behind BN throughout his tenure as the Kota Samarahan Member of Parliament.
“It is my wish that before I retire, I will be able to return back here to Kampung Sri Arjuna to personally thank you all for giving undivided support to Barisan Nasional for over 40 years of me being your representative,” he said.
At the function, Abdul Taib also announced a grant of RM100,000 to the mosque committee for them to carry out their religious activities.
BERNAMA
