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In ‘final speech’, Taib says no place for dominant race policy in Sarawak

Timber firm allowed appeal against licence cancellation by former Sarawak CM

Outgoing Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said Sarawak's multi-racial society has no place for any dominant race policies.

“I think we have learned to be more open and to cooperate because nobody desires to be dominant or to dominate other people in whatever we plan for the future," he was quoted by Borneo Post as saying at a Chinese New Year gathering in Miri on Saturday.

In a speech he said was his last as chief minister before he steps down this week, Taib (pic) zeroed in on the education sector, saying it can be developed without any race feeling insecure.

"Our policy is such that we can develop the state properly without the feeling of insecurity arising between other groups.

“You can expect the next chief minister and his cabinet to treasure any opportunity to create close interaction between all the races,” he said.

On March 1, Special Functions Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem will take over from Taib, who steps down this Friday after helming the state for over three decades.

In his parting message, the Miri-born Taib thanked everyone for their hard work.

“This is going to be my last speech as chief minister to you and addressing you in a Chinese New Year gathering. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you, especially business friends, community leaders and even the ordinary guys, who have been working very hard to transform Miri from a very humble beginning into a thriving town economically," he said, as quoted by Borneo Post. – February 24, 2014.