By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 8: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg hopes to see Sarawak prosper and develop to become the ‘Bavaria of Asia’ within the next decade, particularly through efforts outlined for the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) to put in place a good ecosystem based on the digital economy.
He pointed out that the German state of Bavaria with its well developed hi-tech economy and Italy with its luxury brands leading the automobile and fashion markets were two regions that determined the future of the European Union (EU) economy.
“These two regions really propel the European economy. Indeed I hope Sarawak becomes the Bavaria of Asia,” he said during the Sarawak Business Federation (SBF)’s Business Engagement Session with the Chief Minister event held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Emphasising the four sectors — agriculture, tourism and services, infrastructure and education — to be given priority in the next five years leading to 2025, Abang Johari pointed out that building a good ecosystem and digital platform was crucial to propel Sarawak towards a high income economy and achieved its vision to become the most advanced state in Malaysia by 2030.
“With all that achieved, sectors and industries can continue to move to the next level within 2025 to 2030. Then by 2030, hopefully we will have a high income society in Sarawak. That’s the vision,” he said.
On agriculture, he emphasised the need to adopt smart farming to increase yields and produce food to meet the demands of the global population.
“There is already an existing market with a huge population in China, India, east Asia and Asean. They need food and we have the advantage of land but we must adopt technology in the process and production to increase the yields,” he said.
Noting the competion with other countries like Indonesia, he encouraged Sarawakians to produce premium food which the markets were constantly sourcing.
As for the tourism and services sector which links with many other sectors and industries including food as well as wellness or healthcare, he stressed that the only downside is Sarawak is handicapped by connectivity.
“So we have to invest in setting up a small airline to link and perhaps be a hub to bring people in,” he said.
“The wellness industry is the future. One hospital requested land for expansion including setting up of a hospital campus but I can’t reveal (the plans) yet. The industry players in the health services want to set up their facilities here for a simple reason — cheap power,” he added.
As for infrastructure, Abang Johari emphasied that road connectivity was essential as they were the arteries which connect rural to urban areas as well as open up and link opportunities for rural people to increase their standard of living.
“Once the Pan Borneo Highway and coastal road are completed, we will connect to villages and longhouses with spur routes,” he said.
“Efficient ports are also part of infrastructure needed as we are a trading partner. There must be a tracking system developed to monitor ships and cargo so as to have efficient management,” he added.
On the education sector, Abang Johari emphasised that right training must be given to prepare Sarawakians, especially the young workforce for the digital future as talented manpower is crucial for Sarawak’s transformation.
“We now have Centexs (Centre of Technical Excellence) and skills development centres giving the push for technical and vocational training, while Swinburne (Swinburne University Sarawak Campus) and Curtin (Curtin University Malaysia) have responded in offering training in new sectors,” he said.
“Public varsities have a bit of problem due to the language. English is a universal language and language of technology,” he added.
In this new journey based on these four thrusts, Abang Johari called on the public and private sectors to have one mind and one vision to transform Sarawak together.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, State Legal Counsel Dato Sri Fong Joo Chung, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya Dr Fatimah Kari, SBF president Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg as well as its deputy president Datuk Dr Philip Ting were also present. — DayakDaily
