CM: State’s economic growth to increase to 6 per cent by 2030

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Abang Johari (centre) presenting the PBB Satok TDM kit to Ibrahim Baki while PBB Satok branch treasurer Alhadi Ibrahim (right) looks on.

KUCHING: The state’s economic growth is expected to increase from its current average of four per cent to six per cent by 2030.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg believes that increased public expenditure caused by infrastructure development that includes roads, bridges, the development of the state’s first LRT as well as the service sector will propel the state’s economic growth to six per cent in the next 12 years.

He cited the state’s water resources as among the factors that would contribute to the state’s economic growth.

“We want to redevelop our water channels from our dams as well as from our water sources so that we can channel water to rural areas,” he told a press conference after officiating the PBB Satok Triennial Delegates Meeting (TDM) at a leading hotel here yesterday.

He pointed out that the state was currently receiving water royalty generated from Bakun Dam and therefore the state government would use this revenue to reinvest in the state’s water infrastructure such as piping channels to areas such as Batang Ai, Kuala Rajang and Tanjung Manis.

“These channels will go through villages and longhouses including Kabong, Pusa, Betong and so on. The channelled water will be distributed to villages from the Batang Ai water channel,” he said, adding that a master plan was currently being drafted for this project.

He said once the water supply is channelled to the rural areas, this will in turn propel further development in the area as well as open up more job opportunities.

Earlier in his speech, Abang Johari touched on development in Satok where he noted that the state government was planning to transform the constituency into a new business centre in the city within the next three years.

In order to do so, he said various development projects had been planned for the ‘new Satok’.

“Among them is the construction of a 13-floor twin smart building at Binamara site as well as plans to expand Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol and construct a new Bintangor bidge which will be equipped with a modern LED lighting system.”

On the TDM, he said the meeting also served as a dialogue between the party’s leaders and grassroots leaders.

“So far we have been getting good feedbacks particularly in our efforts to transform our economy to digital economy. There has been a very positive response particularly from young members of PBB as well as the society who look forward to the state’s transformation towards digital economy.”

Also present were PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Idris Buang, who is also Muara Tuang assemblyman, and PBB Satok branch deputy chairman Ibrahim Baki.