JANUARI 2026
SARAWAK PREMIER HONOURED WITH SUSTAINABILITY AWARD AT UN GLOBAL COMPACT GALA
KUALA LUMPUR, 29 January 2026 – The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak, delivered a keynote address tonight at the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB) Members Celebration Night 2026, declaring the end of the era of gradual sustainability and calling for accelerated, tangible action from the private sector.
Held at the Intercontinental Hotel, the event themed “The Sarawak Narrative: Driving Leadership in Private Sector Sustainability” brought together industry leaders and sustainability practitioners.
In his speech, the Premier positioned the evening as a signal of a fundamental shift in Malaysia’s approach to sustainable development.
The Premier, who received the Sustainability Visionary Award, dedicated the honour to the collective efforts of Sarawak’s institutions, public servants, and partners.
He emphasised that the “low-hanging fruit” has been picked and the path to 2030 commitments now requires harder structural changes, capital investment, and business model redesign.
He highlighted the critical importance of the night’s awards, which honour execution over mere ambition.
“They honour organisations that are moving beyond statements and frameworks into real, measurable action,” he said, sending a message that Malaysian companies are helping to drive the global sustainability transition.
Illustrating Sarawak’s commitment, the Premier detailed the state’s integrated frameworks: the Post-COVID Development Strategy 2030, the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy, the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint, and the Sarawak Hydrogen Economy Roadmap.
“Energy will be our catalyst,” he affirmed, outlining plans to decarbonise production, transform oil and gas, and scale up renewables to position Sarawak as a regional sustainable energy partner.
Concluding his remark, the Premier honoured the individuals driving change; sustainability managers, Chief Sustainability Officers, and courageous CEOs.
“Strategies do not execute themselves. Policies do not reduce emissions. Roadmaps do not transform supply chains. People do,” he stated.
The Premier urged the private sector to build the engines of progress, powered by integrity and sustainability, on the highway built by government policy.