Taib and Adenan (second right) make their way to their seats.
Leaders and members of Sabati perform at the appreciation dinner.
KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem is proud of the achievements of women in Sarawak, particularly that of Pandelela Rinong Pamg who won a medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
“I challenge the men to get a bronze medal and try to surpass the achievement of Pandelela Rinong,” he said at the Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers’ (Sabati) appreciation dinner at a hotel here last Saturday.
Adenan honoured the contributions of Sarawakian women in fields such as education, administration and politics for which he said: “They have been holding up the sky.”
“We salute our women for their efforts. I salute my wife for what she has done for Sabati. I now call her the six-million-dollar woman.”
Sabati, now led by Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu, has raised over RM6 million for its foundation, the Sarawak Heart Foundation and Sarawak Welfare Association for Orphans (Peryatim).
To this, Adenan said he probably could not raise that much funds, but was thankful for Jamilah’s initiatives, for which he complimented: “She is made of a good heart.”
He also ‘rounded up’ the amount to RM7 million in a gesture of support to the association’s community and welfare services.
He recalled the first president of Sabati, the late Puan Sri Laila Taib for being “kind, caring and compassionate” and a woman leader who “came from foreign parts and had adopted us as one of her own.”
“I know Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib (Jamilah’s predecessor and wife of Head of State Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud) is also from foreign parts, but please, like the late Puan Sri Laila Taib did, adopt us as one of your own.”
Adenan said he would not underestimate women while recognising women’s role in social development and nation-building.
He added women held up half the sky and without them, the sky would fall apart.
On Sabati, Sarawak Heart Foundation and Peryatim, he said although the three organisations came with a different name, they shared one thing in common – plentiful of hearts.
“They have the heart for the poor, the sick and the handicapped. When there is suffering and helplessness, they are there to assist and care.”
Adenan went on to point out heart disease “is the number one killer which does not confine to one race given that everyone has a heart.” He said he had encountered heart problems a year or so ago.
For health, he said he had quit smoking. With this, he also advised Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan to give up smoking.
“I have given up smoking for two years. If you (Awang Tengah) are looking to me as a senior, join me to quit smoking. Our TYT (Taib) used to smoke, but he has given (smoking) up for years now.”
Of paramount importance, he quipped: “I do not like people smoking.”
Earlier, Adenan shared some light moments with guests at the dinner by cracking a joke: “I tell you a secret. I still refer to our TYT as CM. When I was waiting for him to arrive, I asked the secretary, ‘Bila CM datang?’ (When is CM arriving?). Then I realised, Oh, I am the CM now.”
After 33 years of regarding Taib as the chief minister of Sarawak, he admitted he was still adjusting to the transition of power.
Adenan was sworn in as the fifth chief minister of Sarawak on Feb 28 while Taib took his oath of office as the seventh Head of State on March 1.