By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Jan 9: The Sarawak government will implement the State Sovereign Fund once it has appointed experts to advise on the matter.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this was among the matters discussed during the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council Meeting held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here earlier tonight.
“We will refer to successful funds such as those run by Nordic countries like Norway, and our neighbor Singapore who has its own way in managing finance,” he said at a press conference after the meeting.
The sovereign fund will be aimed at long-term management of the State’s financial resources in the future.
Abang Johari who is also the PBB president further said the State government will enhance Sarawak’s approach in the field of energy and new economy that uses green technology as promised in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) election manifesto.
He disclosed that the State government has also placed the portfolio of public health under a ministry (Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government).
“Public health will be the responsibility of the State government while we continue to encourage medical research through a research centre that we established next to Sarawak Heart Centre,” he said.
Abang Johari also noted that the whole world including Sarawak is facing climate change which is closely related to environmental management.
Following this, he said the State government will train its focus on this matter throughout its five-year administration involving reforestation and tree-planting programmes.
“We must study the sustainable management of our forests for the sake of our future and to achieve an environment as desired by the world presently,” he pointed out. ― DayakDaily
