Sarawak Premier honors legacy of Dominic Andrew Dago at final farewell
Abang Johari (centre) looks at an old photographs of late Dago with Abu Bakar (right) and Dago's family members. Photo from Premier's Office
KUCHING (May 17): The late Datuk Amar Dominic Andrew Dago was a significant figure in the history of Malaysia's formation, said Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
According to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report, Abang Johari said the late Dago played a pivotal role in rallying Bidayuh support for the establishment of the Malaysia Federation in 1963.
'The late Datuk Amar was the first Member of Parliament for Serian and served as a State Assemblyman for Upper Sadong for one term,' he said when met by the media after paying his last respects to the late Dago at Kampung Pichin, Serian on Friday.
He also acknowledged Dago's instrumental role in unifying Parti Pesaka and Parti Bumiputera, which later merged to form Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
Reflecting on their personal connection, Abang Johari noted that Dago had been a contemporary of his late father, Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Openg Sapiee, during their time in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
'It was through this bond that my late father once set foot in Kampung Pichin during the 1970s,' he said.
Also present to pay their respects were Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Chief Private Secretary to the Premier Datuk Khir Busrah and Serian Division Resident Caroline Cleophas Joseph.
Datuk Amar Dominic Andrew Dago passed away at the age of 91 on Thursday morning.
He is survived by his wife, Datin Amar Mary Margaret Lenuh, and their six children – three sons and three daughters.
After retiring from politics, Dago continued to serve the state and community in various capacities.
These included appointments as Political Secretary, Chairman of the Public Service Commission (1971–1973), and President of the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) from 1973 to 1975.
He was also the founding headmaster of St Dominic Primary School in Kampung Pichin, established in 1955.
In recognition of his lifelong contributions, he was awarded the Datuk Amar Bintang Kenyalang (DA) in 2019, the state's highest honour, which carries the title Datuk Amar.
His other accolades include the 1Malaysia Icon Award (2009), the Pioneer of Independence Struggle Award, and the Sarawak Independence Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The funeral service will be held at 9am on May 19 at the Holy Trinity Church in Kampung Pichin, followed by burial at the Kampung Pichin Cemetery. abang johari Dominic Andrew Dago pay last respects Ukas
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
Soon regional renewable hub energy
Published on: Thursday, June 12, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 12, 2025 Text Size: Abang Johari said the 2023 amendment to the Sarawak Electricity Ordinance was a significant step in accelerating the development of renewable energy. - Bernama pic KUCHING: Sarawak is forging ahead with its Energy Transition Policy (SET-P), charting a clear path toward a low-carbon and sustainable energy future to support the state's rapid and inclusive development, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg (pic). In a keynote address, 'Renewable Energy Sarawak: Powering Sustainable Growth', delivered by Deputy Minister of Utility (Sarawak Energy Berhad and Petros) Datuk Ibrahim Baki at the 18th International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Exhibition and Conference (SNEC PV) in Shanghai, China, Abang Johari hailed energy security and affordability as the key pillars of the state's long-term development agenda. Advertisement 'Sarawak aims to achieve 10 gigawatts (GW) of power generation capacity by 2030, and 15GW by 2035, positioning the state as a renewable energy leader in the region. 'Sarawak currently has an installed capacity of 5,898 megawatts (MW), with over 60 per cent coming from hydropower, supported by thermal generation to ensure energy security. 'Reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is essential to meet the growing demands of our people and industries,' he said, as quoted in a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) repport. Abang Johari said the 2023 amendment to the Sarawak Electricity Ordinance was a significant step in accelerating the development of renewable energy. Abang Johari also highlighted the state's push for solar energy, citing the successful commissioning of the 50MW Batang Ai Floating Solar Farm in December last year – the first hydro-solar hybrid initiative in Malaysia. 'Sarawak is targeting 1,500MW of solar generation capacity by 2030 and is exploring more largescale floating solar projects in collaboration with regional and international partners. 'We are committed to making Sarawak the 'Battery of Asean' by exporting renewable energy to our neighbours. 'The success of our crossborder electricity export to West Kalimantan in 2016 has spurred plans to expand energy connectivity to Sabah, Brunei, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. 'These efforts contribute to the development of an integrated Borneo Grid and, eventually, the Asean Power Grid,' he said. The ongoing SNEC PV Conference features over 3,000 exhibitors representing 95 countries, and serves as a key platform for policy updates, market trends, and global energy stakeholder engagement. Abang Johari also extended an invitation to global industry players to attend the Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum (Saref 5.0), scheduled to be held in Kuching this Sept 3 and 4. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Borneo Post
Premier: Sarawak's GDP expected to surpass 5 pct this year
(Seated from left) Sagah, Uggah, Ting and Mancha in a photocall with other guests during the event. MIRI (June 11): Sarawak's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is expected to exceed 5 per cent by the end of this year, driven by strategic investments in infrastructure and green technology, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He attributed the state's strong performance to political stability, the people's unity, and policies implemented by the Sarawak government, which have begun yielding encouraging results. Against the setting of Malaysia's GDP growth forecast of 4.4 to 5.5 per cent, Abang Johari said Sarawak's performance continues to be guided by the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, launched in July 2021 to transform Sarawak from a traditional economy to a new economy, centred on green growth policies. He expressed optimism that the implementation of PCDS 2030 would enable Sarawak to achieve developed and high-income status by 2030, while also ensuring social inclusion and environmental sustainability. 'The almost threefold increase in state revenue, from around RM5 billion eight years ago to RM15 billion last year, gives us the confidence that we can achieve the PCDS 2030 goals,' he said. Abang Johari's speech text was read by his deputy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas during the 'Religious and Other Religions Thanksgiving Ceremony', held in conjunction with the state-level official birthday celebration of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Limbang Civic Hall today. Also present were State Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development and minister-in-charge of the celebration, Dato Dri Roland Sagah Wee Inn; State Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Arts Performance Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew; and Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata. Meanwhile, a total of RM475 million in aid funds has been provided by Other Religious Affairs Unit (Unifor) to houses of worship, including those of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Baha'i, Sikh, and Hinduism, based on the principle of social inclusivity. These funds are meant for their construction projects, repairs, renovations, maintenance, and purchase of equipment and religious tools. 'In addition, Unifor has also provided a total of RM90 million to missionary schools in Sarawak since 2021. This means that RM565 million has been allocated to Unifor by the Sarawak government,' added Abang Johari. Commenting on the event, he said it provides an opportunity for Sarawakians to witness the uniqueness of their culture. 'We are the only region in Malaysia that organises such thanksgiving ceremony as an annual event, held in conjunction with Sarawak's flagship celebrations such as today's event. 'This ceremony reflects the nature of tolerance, inclusiveness, respect, and understanding among our people who come from various religions and beliefs, yet are united in giving thanks and offering prayers for the wellbeing of His Majesty and the Queen,' he said. abang johari economic growth GDP
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Sarawak signs MoU with Chinese firms to explore floating solar at Bakun dam
SHANGHAI: The Sarawak government has formalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies to jointly undertake various studies and collaborate to explore the potential development of floating solar - with a capacity not exceeding 1,000MW - on the reservoir of the Bakun dam. The MoU was formalised between the Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Ministry, China Three Gorges International Ltd, and Shanghai Electric Power T&D Group Co Ltd at the 2025 International Solar Photovoltaic and Smart Energy Conference (SNEC PV) in Shanghai today. The signatories of the MoU were Sarawak's Permanent Secretary for the Utility and Telecommunication Ministry Datuk Jafri Lias, vice-president of China Three Gorges International Ltd Zhang Kai Hong, and Vice President of Shanghai Electric Power T&D Group Co Ltd Yang Xing Hai. Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, in his speech at the signing ceremony, said Sarawak was pleased to forge this strategic alliance with strong industry partners like CTGI and Shanghai Electric. In a speech read by Deputy Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Ibrahim Baki, Abang Johari said the strategic alliance would support the state government's aim of ensuring energy security and environmental sustainability. "Sarawak currently has a generation capacity of about 5,900MW, predominantly from renewable hydropower sources. "Sarawak targets a 10GW generation capacity by 2030, and 15GW by 2035, with renewable sources making up over 60 per cent of the capacity mix. "With its vast renewable energy resources, Sarawak has the potential to become a renewable energy powerhouse in the region," Abang Johari said. He said Sarawak's progressive renewable energy policies are accelerating the state's energy transition. He said recent amendments to the Electricity Ordinance in 2023 further underscore Sarawak's commitment to decarbonisation, with enabling provisions for large-scale solar development, consumer-generated electricity, and independent power producer participation. The premier said Sarawak's growing focus on solar energy reflects the state's approach, which includes solar-hybrid rural electrification, hydrogen-integrated solar systems, and the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme to support solar adoption in housing developments. He said Sarawak successfully generated power from its first large-scale solar installation at the Batang Ai Dam in December 2024. He said the 50MW floating solar farm, spanning over 190ha of the Batang Ai reservoir, also marks Sarawak's first integrated hydroelectric and solar power scheme. He said this initiative would pave the way for further development of floating solar projects in Sarawak at other hydropower reservoirs through privately funded investments. The MoU signing was held in conjunction with the SNEC PV+ 18th International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition, which is being held from June 10 to 13, 2025, at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai, China. The event is known as the world's largest and most influential PV trade show, attracting more than 3,000 exhibitors from 95 countries.
