Sarawak will invest heavily in youth to spur economic transformation

Abang Johari in a group photo with the youths and other dignitaries at the state-level Youth Day celebration.

MIRI, Dec 7: Sarawak government will strive to provide the best human capital development opportunities to its youth in all fields in achieving its vision of turning the state into an advanced, developed region by 2030.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state will invest heavily in the youth, which will be the main catalyst for economic transformation.

“We will invest in the youth and prepare them to steer the state. The youth will help Sarawak become a developed state in Malaysia by 2030, they have the potential.


“We will guide you. We will give you good education. We will give you scholarship. We will give you study loans and you will work hard to build Sarawak and Sarawak will be successful in the future. This is our hope for you,” Abang Johari said at the state-level Youth Day celebration at Miri Indoor Stadium today.

Abang Johari launching the state-level Youth Day celebration. He is flanked by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Dr George Chan (right).

The chief minister was optimistic that Sarawak would be able to achieve developed status by 2030, as it has put in place all the necessary infrastructures including providing the youths with incentives.

“We will be successful in our endeavour because we have you, our youth to drive us forward in terms of technology. That is why I am willing to take up the challenge to embark on digital economy because I have place high hope on our youths, who are technology savvy,” he said.

Abang Johari cited examples of Sarawakians who have done well in the performing arts such as famed Akademi Fantasia graduates Bob Yusof and Hafiz Suib, as well as Malaysian diva Dayang Nurfaizah.

He also highlighted the achievement of Henry Golding, a Sarawak-born actor of mixed British-Iban parentage, who have made it big in Hollywood through the film “Crazy Rich Asians”.

Abang Johari believed that Sarawakians are a talented lot, especially considering that many were able to make in big worldwide in various sectors, such as finance, banking, technology and education.

“There are at least three Sarawakians who have made their names in banking in Singapore, and we have brought back one of them back and appointed him as a director in our Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS).

“Additionally, when I visited Curtin University, we have a student there who has created his own drone. So we have the talents, which I hope will be further developed to make Sarawak great. Let us make Sarawak great together,” he said. — DayakDaily