Awg Tengah refutes claims of rift with Abg Johari

KUCHING: PBB senior vicepresident Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan says it is mere public perception that he is not in good terms with newly appointed Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“In fact, he was one of those who brought me into politics in 1987 when I was a government servant. And I used to work with him when he was assistant minister of regional and community development. He is one of my political mentors,” Awang Tengah told the media at the Astana soon after Abang Johari was sworn as the sixth chief minister of Sarawak yesterday.

Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment said during a meeting with Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at his residence in Demak Jaya yesterday morning, he ( Awang Tengah) was the one who supported him (Abang Johari) to be appointed chief minister when his name was mentioned.

“That’s the strength of our party which is based on consensus. And we agreed among ourselves that Abang Johari would be the chief minister,” he said.

He said among those who attended the closed- door meeting were the party’s senior leaders, including the secretarygeneral, vice presidents and leaders of both the Women and Youth wings.

Meanwhile, Awang Tengah believed that Abang Johari would carry out his duty well as he was already a seasoned politician and would be able to look after the welfare of all races in the state.

“He has all the experience of a good leader. So, I am sure he will continue to carry on with the development agenda for Sarawak and its people,” he added.