By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 11: The Sarawak government is looking into a proposal to build a hydroelectric dam in Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara.
Revealing this, the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, said that the proposal is still under study, but Sarawak has taken steps to expand to other countries, including Brunei and Singapore.
“In a recent visit to Brunei (Darussalam), the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has endorsed the collaboration between Brunei and Sarawak, where the construction of the road connectivity between the two countries will continue.
“For Singapore, the Prime Minister has also given support to Sarawak to sell electricity to the Island Republic at a ceiling of 1,000 megawatts on condition that if there are investments to Singapore that requires energy, including data centre and related to the new economy, they will be directed to Sarawak, apart from carbon trading.
“All these are due to the confidence in Sarawak and our policies,” he said when addressing the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) appreciation dinner in conjunction with the 15th General Election (GE15) at Majma Baitulmal Hall here tonight.
Following the formation of the unity government, Abang Johari said the Federal government now recognised the strength of the GPS-led government and the policies implemented that even Anwar has said Sarawak is quite advanced in terms of its economic policies.
“With strong leadership and sound policies, this will bring positive impact and benefit to the people. Fortunately, in 2022, Sarawak’s revenue hit a record of RM11.9 billion. We also had a surplus of nearly RM2 billion last year which will be used to develop our fundamental economy.
“We will build the roads, agencies have been set up, and we will upgrade the water and electricity supply. This will be a guarantee for our future,” he said.
Giving assurance that Sarawak is heading in the right direction, Abang Johari pointed out that Sarawak is even ready for the new economy, including carbon storage and trading, unlike other states in Peninsula Malaysia, which are not developing hydrogen or carbon storage.
“We have amended our law, and this will be the new revenue stream for Sarawak.
“Whatever we have implemented today are the results of the efforts from the GPS team, which can catapult our economy to greater heights. Let us be the star in Malaysia,” he emphasised.
Abang Johari also expressed confidence that the 23 elected members of Parliament from Sarawak will work hard and show their fangs at the Federal level to get all the rights within Malaysia Agreement 163 (MA63) back to Sarawak.
“We will continue our struggle to take back the eroded rights under MA63 from the Federal government. GPS’ strength is our blessings. As such, we must be united, we must be forward-looking, and we must protect our rights within MA63,” he emphasised.
Among those present were Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) president Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Datuk Joseph Salang, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) secretary-general Datuk Nelson Balang Ringin representing party president Dato Sri Tiong King Sing. — DayakDaily
