DISEMBER 2020
Sarawak Well-Positioned Towards Developed Status by 2030: CM Abg Jo
MIRI: Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg today said Sarawak was well-positioned to be a developed state by the year 2030 and beyond with its long term planning, structured approach and stable sosio-economic ecosystem.
Citing its digital economy initiative, he said Sarawak had proven itself to be ahead of other states particularly in the use of digital applications to manage COVID-19.
He was addressing the peope in conjunction with the earthbreaking ceremony of the Federal of Orang Ulu Associations’ (FORUM) headquarters in Jalan Padang Kerbau, here.
Nine Orang Ulu associations namely, Persatuan Kayan Sarawak, Persatuan Kebangsaan Kenyah Sarawak, Rurum Kelabit Sarawak, Persatuan Bisaya Sarawak, Persatuan Saban Sarawak, Persatuan Berawan Sarawak, Persatuan Lun Bawang Sarawak, Petipun Penan Sarawak and Persatuan Lakiput Sarawak come under the umbrella of FORUM.
The building on a five-acre site include a multi-purpose hall and an office block costing RM18 million scheduled for completion in May 2022.
The State Government had given an initial grant of RM10 million towards the building fund as part of a RM25 million pledged.
The Chief Minister, recalling how he was ridiculed when he first introduced digital economy said Sarawak’s use of the wristband as a tracking device had been adopted by the national disaster management in the fight against COVID-19.
“In a meeting I was asked what the wristband is and I told them its a tracking device being used in Sarawak,” he recalled.
He pointed out that the pandemic that restricted movement of people as required by the SOPs also made it apparent that the public was adapting well to the use of online business platforms to order many items and pay online, thanks to the earlier introduction of the digital economy.
“Sarawak is positioning itself well in the digital economy,” he said.
Stressing further on Sarawak’s strength, he highlighted its socio-political stability under the GPS government which he believed were among the factors that gave investors confidence to invest in Sarawak.
Citing a recent report by UOB Global Economics and Markets Research, he said Sarawak was top of all the states in FDI for the first nine months of 2020 with a total investment value of RM15.8 bilion.
He also highlighted how Sarawak had boldly positioned herself in the journey towards the development of a hydrogen economy, again to the rudicule of certain quarters.
Together with the rest of countries that recognised the potential of hydrogen as a clean and renewable energy, Sarawak had again emerged as the forerunner when it developed the first hydrogen facility in South East Asia in Kuching, he told the people.
He also told the people that Sarawak with the anticipation of more revenue particularly from its oil and gas resources was studying the viability of setting up a sovereign wealth fund modelled on Norway’s.
He said the recent signing of the commercial settlement agreement (CSA) with Petronas would pave the way for the State to earn more from its oil and gas resources both from onshore and offshore.
Though too early to reveal anything on the fund, he pointed out that its setting up would be to save and invest any extra revenue for the future of Sarawak and its people.
The advisor of FORUM, Datuk Gerawat Gala who is also DUN Deputy Speaker also spoke to outline, among others the role and functions of the Orang Ulu organisation.
Also present was the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Sarawak Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Sumber dari : Sarawakku