Abang Johari (second right) presents a certificate to a teacher from a participating school. Abang Sardon is third from right.
KUCHING: Sarawakians must strive to be an innovative lot to help push the state towards a more advanced economic system.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was, among others, eyeing the services sector and rural economy to drive the state forward.
“At present, we depend on commodities such as palm oil, oil, gas and minerals, but our economy must be improved, and this requires high quality human resources and innovation,”
he said at the closing of a 1Malaysia Camp at Multimedia College here yesterday.
Although the state is big in terms of land area but small in terms of population (about 2.7 millon), Abang Johari believed it was still possible to grow remarkably well.
“The vital element is how we manage our resources.”
On rural development, he said the state government wanted to add value to the rural economy.
“The younger generation will be the engine, with the knowledge, right perception and technology.”
Meanwhile, state Information Department director Abang Sardon Abang Helmi said the three-day 1Malaysia Camp benefited the 57 participants from seven schools.
Apart from understanding the concept of ‘Rukunegara’, he hoped the camp would be able to instil the spirit of loyalty and cooperation among the participants.
“The underlying factor is that we must understand one another and be tolerance as we are living in a multi-religious and multi-racial society.”