PETALING JAYA: Umno has promised to further strengthen Sabah and Sarawak’s position in accordance with the spirit of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, should the party return to full power.
When Barisan Nasional returned to full power after the 15th General Election (GE15), Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Sabah and Sarawak would continue to be strategic partners in terms of economic and political development.
He said there were many more developments that were planned in the states.
"Congratulations to the Premier of Sarawak, Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who now has five higher education institutions owned by the Sarawak government, including Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Sarawak Campus, Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS), International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (ICATS) and Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) to empower the human capital Sarawakians.
"Congratulations also to Sabah who received the third largest amount of investments in the country with foreign direct investments (FDIs) projected to exceed RM7bil this year.
"This shows that Sabah and Sarawak have great potential to develop together with other states in the country," he said in a Facebook post in conjunction with Malaysia Day.
He called on Malaysians to continue to work hard to preserve unity, harmony and social wellbeing.
"Regardless of our differences of opinion, we are still a united country.
"As a country of various ethnics, religious and regional backgrounds, all of us, including political leaders, should not make sensitive statements that can upset each other.
"Indeed, Malaysians are mature and rational. At the same time, the differences between us must be celebrated," he added.
