Time to be a leader, Abang Jo

COMMENT | I have good news and bad news for my chief minister, Abang Johari Abang Openg.

Let me start with the good news. I have no desire to spoil his day with a negative missive, in case he is reading this over breakfast.

I’ve said before that I think Abang Johari is a good and decent politician, and I still believe that is true. And my statement is not without basis or facts.

I’ve checked and cross-checked with the many stories in the whistleblower website Sarawak Report over the years about the abuse of power and sheer greed and corruption plaguing those in the corridors of power in my home state of Sarawak.

None implicate the chief minister. No finger was pointed at Abang Jo. His name was not listed in the many companies associated with dubious and dirty dealings in the state.

Well, the chief minister’s detractors might disagree, but I would conclude that Abang Jo is clean – not squeaky clean perhaps, but reasonably clean at least.

I say this because I’m unsure if there were other unhealthy or undesirable ‘activities’ he could have gotten into which he shouldn’t have since he became chief minister in January last year.

Another thing that stands out about Abang Jo’s personality is that he seems to be a family-oriented man. He is a faithful husband and not tainted...