KUCHING, April 29: A good public transport network including the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is most critical for Sarawak’s progress and economic growth including to enable real estate development to spread beyond the city centre, and to attract tourists and expatriates.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg highlighted this in an interview with Singapore’s The Straits Times published yesterday (April 28) following his working visit to the island republic to give a talk at the S. Rajaratnam Endowment Dialogue organised by Temasek Foundation.
He is aware that the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project planned in Kuching and Samarahan in the first phase has come under harsh criticism from the people, with many complaining that “it is costly and a white elephant as even public buses run half-empty now”.
“People criticised me, especially about the digital economy initiative. When the pandemic hit, then they realised the importance of e-commerce.
“I hope to draw investors with such development,” he told The Straits Times in defending the LRT project.
Referring to Singapore’s own efforts to build up its economy decades ago, Abang Johari pointed out that former Singapore Prime Minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew and the late Goh Keng Swee who was called the “economic architect” of Singapore, had done a remarkable job.
“When Singapore left Malaysia, the late Lee Kuan Yew… and Goh Keng Swee had a very good model. What they did was change the whole of Orchard Road. Your EDB (Economic Development Board) really puts extra effort in (building) your airport.
“Then you have your port facilities… When you have a good Orchard Road, tourism, a very important sector, will come in. People can see the future of Singapore through your airport,” he was quoted as saying.
Abang Johari also told the news outlet of his ambitious plans to ramp up infrastructure development in Sarawak, which is Malaysia’s largest state, with the aim to turn it into an investment hub for green energy and emerging technologies by 2030.
He also noted the need to tackle corruption issues in Sarawak in order for the State to leap in progress and development.
“We have to look at various models to curb corruption,” he said, noting Singapore’s move decades ago to revise civil servants’ salaries was effective at tackling graft and instilled professionalism and ethics among them. — DayakDaily
