It's funny but I forgot we had another two states east of the Peninsula until this past two weeks when there was a sudden strange surge in advertisements and promotion for the state of Sarawak. The local television channels show the beautiful cities of Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu and many more I have never heard before.

The radios talks about development in the state and the news this morning spoke of bridges that would be built all over the state including a bridge over the longest river in Malaysia. I wonder why these bridges were not built before, after almost 50 years of independence.

Perhaps state elections should be carried out every year so that the state gets its deserved publicity and promotion on national TV plus development that it needs for new bridges and roads.

I am really alarmed that over the last four years, so little attention has been given to East Malaysia when, in fact, there is a wealth of tourist potential even from West Malaysians.

The federal government and the tourism development authorities have done little to promote East Malaysia. The people of Sarawak should think carefully this weekend and choose wisely.