Dr Sim urges unity and talent development for Sarawak’s future

KUCHING (Feb 1): Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has urged party members and Sarawakians to remain united, grounded in strong values, and focused on talent development, warning that division and complacency could undermine the state’s long-term progress.

The Deputy Premier said Sarawak’s progress today was built on decades of political stability and consistent leadership, adding that SUPP, as a multiracial party in the political mainstream, had played its part in supporting that stability.

He also urged both party members and the public to focus on constructive participation rather than destructive politics.

“Nation-building is difficult in a divided environment. A society that constantly attacks its own institutions will find it hard to move forward,” he said during the SUPP Batu Lintang Branch 39th Anniversary Commemoration and Year of the Horse Lunar New Year celebration at a local restaurant on Saturday night.

Dr Sim noted that the occasion not only celebrated the Batu Lintang branch’s 39 years of service but also marked 67 years of SUPP’s contribution to the founding and development of Sarawak, describing the party as the state’s oldest political party that has remained relevant and active.

“Many parties have disappeared over time. SUPP is still here because it has stayed true to its original purpose: a multiracial party working solely for Sarawak,” he said.

Reflecting on Sarawak’s transformation, Dr Sim said the state was once looked down upon but is now respected and increasingly seen as a model of governance, attributing this shift to stability and long-term planning.

“Sarawak today is no longer what it was 10 or 14 years ago. And by 2030, it will be even more different,” he said, adding that respect for Sarawak now extended beyond Malaysia.

However, Dr Sim cautioned that economic strength alone was not enough, stressing that leadership continuity and talent development are critical to sustaining growth.

“Development is not just about wealth. The real question is whether we have people who can continue the work. That is why education and values are so important,” he said.

Dr Sim also urged Sarawakians to take pride in the global success of Sarawak-born professionals, saying their achievements overseas reflect the state’s ability to nurture capable and competitive talent.

Invoking the symbolism of the Year of the Horse, Dr Sim urged Sarawakians to move forward with momentum, determination and a shared sense of purpose, as the state is now at a critical stage of nation-building.

“This is the time to stand strong, to push hard, and move together to build Sarawak together,” he added.

Among those present were SUPP deputy president Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem, Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, SUPP Kota Sentosa branch chairman Wilfred Yap, SUPP Batu Lintang branch chairman Sih Hua Tong, and SUPP Batu Lintang branch secretary Prof Dr Wang Yin Chai, who is also the event organising chairman.