By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 10: Sibu must move beyond its timber-based past and embrace a low-carbon future, with its forests and peatlands potentially emerging as new economic assets through carbon trading, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Sibu’s development was historically driven by the timber industry, but the changing global landscape requires the division to create new industries aligned with sustainability.
“If in the past Sibu was developed because of the timber industry, today the timber industry has declined because we want to develop according to a low-carbon approach.
“The era has changed, where environmental sustainability is our focus, and we have to create new industries for Sibu,” he said when speaking at a private dinner with village chiefs and community leaders (KMKK) at Kingwood Hotel in Sibu, broadcast live by TVS on Facebook tonight.
Abang Johari further said Sibu’s future development must be guided by a comprehensive master plan that takes into account the challenges brought by climate change and the changing needs of the global economy.
He said many towns in Sarawak had grown over the years without proper master plans, as development expanded gradually from the colonial era and the early years of Malaysia without a structured approach.
“Today the world is facing what is called climate change. Because of the uncertainty of the world’s climate, we have to adapt our development according to the demands of today’s world,” he said.
He said extreme weather patterns, including heat waves affecting countries in Europe, were signs of the impact of excessive carbon emissions globally.
However, Abang Johari stressed that Sarawak’s forests and peatlands provide the State with a unique advantage as natural carbon sinks capable of storing carbon.
“For example, forest areas must be preserved, do not cut them down, and we must continue replanting our forests so that they can become carbon sinks to store carbon.
“In today’s world, carbon can be traded with countries that have produced large amounts of carbon emissions. This is what is known as carbon trading,” he explained.
Abang Johari said this new economic landscape was among the reasons Sarawak established development agencies such as the Mid Rajang Development Agency (MiRRDA) and Rajang Delta Development Agency (RDDA) to drive growth in the region.
He also urged KMKK leaders to understand and explain the State’s development direction to their communities, saying their role must evolve alongside changing policies.
“The standard of community leaders must be raised. Otherwise, there will not be proper understanding between the people and our policies, which are made according to the demands of this new era,” he emphasised.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof and wife Datin Amar Ruziah Tahir; Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian and wife Dato Enn Ong Siok Ean; Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture as well as Dudong assemblyman Dato Sri Tiong King Sing; Federal Minister of National Unity as well as Kanowit MP Dato Sri Aaron Ago Dagang; Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and wife Dato Fatimah Mohd Iskandar; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and wife Dato Baduyah Bujang; Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (Public Health and Housing) Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee; and Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development I (Education and Innovation) Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee. — DayakDaily
