By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, July 22: It is only eight more years until 2030, but Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is optimistic that Sarawak will become a high income State by then.
He is comfortably confident that Sarawak will achieve its vision, putting his faith in Sarawakians’ talents and the rapid and steady development of key physical infrastructure towards this goal that started two years ago and will be completed in another three to four years’ time.
“I am confident because our people have the talents.
“Four years ago, I saw our weakness was in infrastructure including electricity and water provision and the road system. But we have started two years ago and now we are implementing these projects.
“At that time, I didn’t expect we could do it but now, we have achieved it. Now the projects are on. In other words, physical connectivity — road networks and bridges — we are able to provide. These (projects) continue now til this year 2021, and where by 2024, all these will be completed,” said Abang Johari at a press conference after officiating at the launch of Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 in conjunction with Sarawak Day today.
Apart from basic infrastructure, Abang Johari is also confident that key digital infrastructure in Sarawak will be completed between 2025 to 2026, following Sarawak’s own investments into these aspects as well as support from Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela), the federal government’s initiative to expand the reach of the Internet to every part of Malaysia).
Following the establishment of physical connectivity, he said Sarawak may apply the technology to other sectors including tourism, education and healthcare, which will experience another stage of growth through the setting up of a research centre on healthcare.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari highlighted the setting up of Invest Sarawak, a one-stop centre for investment.
He said the centre which aims to ease and facilitate foreign investment will play its part in attracting foreign investment while at the same time, the centre will help recruit local talent produced by Sarawak’s own education institutions such as as Curtin University Malaysia and Swinburne University Sarawak Campus, who will meet the needs of industries.
He added Sarawak is tailoring its human capital training according to industrial needs and not based on traditional disciplines offered in universities across the world.
“So overall by 2030, I believe we can (achieve the vision of 2030), as long as GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) is in power,” said Abang Johari.
Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan as well as State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion, federal ministers and assistant ministers were among those present. — DayakDaily
