By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Jan 13: “Change must happen,” Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said tonight, stressing that Sarawak must boldly transform its mindset, institutions, and infrastructure to avoid being trapped in the middle-income economy and to compete alongside developed nations.
Speaking at the ‘Townhall 9 Tahun Bersama YAB Premier Sarawak’ held at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) here, which was streamed live via the Sarawak Public Communication Unit’s (Ukas) Facebook page, Abang Johari said incremental progress was no longer sufficient, as many economies continued to advance while others remained stuck merely “following steps” without catching up.
“To avoid being trapped in the middle-income economy, we must place ourselves at the same level as developed countries. This requires creativity, innovation, and thinking beyond the box. You have to be bold, but calculated, in order to position yourself equivalent to any other developed country,” he said.
The Premier said Sarawak’s transformation journey began in 2017 with a deliberate shift from conventional governance and communication methods to digital platforms, a move that initially faced public scepticism.
However, he noted that the Covid-19 pandemic later became a turning point that underscored the necessity of digital technology for governance, communication, and economic resilience.
“If we want to be world class, our infrastructure must also be world class. At the same time, we must change the mindset of the people we lead so they can accept and understand change in line with the times,” he said.
Abang Johari added that digitalisation alone was not enough without strong fiscal capacity and institutional support to sustain long-term development.
He highlighted the establishment of key state institutions, including a development bank and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS), as well as Sarawak’s takeover of strategic assets such as the Bakun Hydroelectric Dam and Bintulu Port, as critical steps in strengthening the State’s economic foundations.
“These institutions have been built to become organisations capable of uplifting and accelerating the economy we have planned under our development strategy,” he said, adding that Sarawak’s role as a trading economy also required strong import-export infrastructure and institutions.
In this context, he expressed appreciation to the people of Sarawak for their willingness to adapt and embrace change, describing public acceptance as a crucial driver of the State’s ongoing transformation.
“Alhamdulillah, Sarawak is blessed with resources. But resources are meaningless if they are not utilised and value-added. What we need is a strong mindset and forward-looking thinking to add value to what we already have,” he said.
Abang Johari reiterated that only through bold but carefully planned reforms could Sarawak chart a sustainable path towards high-income, developed-economy status. — DayakDaily
