S’wak will not stick strictly to federal policies in planning and implementing its development programme
Abang Johari (third right) receives the ‘Sarawak Time-Honoured Brand, An Everlasting Glory’ book from Tiong, while Uggah (third left), Dr Sim (right), Chung (centre) and others look on. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING: The Sarawak government will develop the state based on a ‘Sarawak mould’ and will not entirely follow the policies set by the federal government, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
In outlining the various policies that the state government has planned for Sarawak in the next five years, he pointed out that even with all the policies in place, political stability is important and above all.
“For us – the state government – we will develop Sarawak based on a ‘Sarawak mould’ or ‘acuan Sarawak’.
“That is why in the 12th Malaysia Plan, we don’t follow 100 per cent of Putrajaya’s policies. We have our own policies,” he said at the official launching of a book titled ‘Sarawak Time-Honoured Brand, An Everlasting Glory’ here on Friday night.
The chief minister reiterated that the Sarawak government will continue to pursue and get back the state’s eroded rights.
“It will give benefit to Sarawak’s private sector, where the public sector can inject investment.
“Once the economy is good, then the public sector can push back a bit and let the economy be run by the private sector,” he said.
He noted that the public and private sectors have to work together in order to work the country forward, and that there is need to adapt to changing environment in order to be competitive and have a place in the new marketplace.
“I will share with you what we intend to do in the next five years up to 2025 and towards 2030, as we are all putting our efforts to make Sarawak as high-income economy by 2030.
“Sarawak is fortunate to have resources and the talents of its people. In the next five years under the12th Malaysia Plan, the state government is giving emphasis on four sectors,” he informed.
These sectors are agriculture, tourism, talent development and strategic infrastructure.
Abang Johari explained that for agriculture, it would no longer be conventional agriculture but precision agriculture using the latest technology including Internet of Things (IoT), where farmers have to be smart farmers.
On tourism, he said the government will have policies that will upgrade the tourism sector and its services as Sarawak has certain niche in terms of tourism promotion based on its strength in culture and nature as well as its friendly people.
He also said the government will continue building strategic infrastructure including road connectivity, bridges, water supply and power.
As for talent development, the government has policies to give the right talent training to the people by working collaboratively with institutions of high learning, he added.
The book launched by the chief minister contains a collection of inspirational stories of 81 companies in Sarawak and the outstanding entrepreneurs who had built the brands.
There was also an award-presentation ceremony to honour these companies, with three distinctive categories of Lifetime Heritage Brand (for companies with history of establishment of 51 years and above), Excellent Achievement Brand (31 to 50 years) and Impactful Lifestyle Brand (10 to 30 years).
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Media Chinese International Limited group executive director Tiong Choon and Sin Chew Daily East Malaysia general manager Chung Hon Sin were among those present at the event.