KUCHING: Sarawak must protect its multicultural harmony from extremism that can cause divisions among the people, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg (pic).

       He expressed concern over the Timah controversy that erupted recently, saying the home-grown whiskey’s name was not an issue in Sarawak.

       “This small thing becomes sensitive. For us, (it’s) no problem.“Just because the name Timah could be a woman’s name, it becomes a problem.

       “Timah doesn’t only mean a woman’s name, it also means tin,” he said when opening the Miri City Hall’s new building in Miri yesterday.

       He noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob chose to launch his Malaysian Family concept in Kuching last month because Sarawak embodied it.

       “So don’t spoil this culture. If (peninsula-based) parties want to come here, they will bring their culture and create problems for us,” he added.

       As such, Abang Johari said he had told federal leaders to let the upcoming Sarawak state election be confined to Sarawakians.

       “This is because firstly, Sarawak’s problems can only be handled by Sarawakians.

       “Secondly, we must defend our rights within Malaysia,” he said.

       The state election must be held within 60 days of Nov 3, when the Sarawak legislative assembly was dissolved upon the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent to terminate the statewide Emergency.

       On the Miri City Hall’s new building, Abang Johari said it symbolised a smart relationship between the local government and city folk, in line with a pilot project to turn Miri into a smart city.

       Through the smart city concept, he said, utilities and public facilities were connected to a main command centre in Miri.

       “In other words, the management and administration of Miri is more efficient, along with the services rendered to the people,” he said, adding that the concept would be extended to other municipalities in Sarawak.