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By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Aug 5: Sarawak is committed to sustaining its high-income status as recognised by the World Bank by raising the household income per capita through strategic measures such as education, establishing new industries, and integrating advanced technology.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he is still astonished at the World Bank’s recognition of Sarawak as a high-income State, considering his initial projections for this achievement were targeted for 2030 or possibly as early as 2026 or 2027.
“But we are within the high-income category now, having successfully met the GNI (gross national index) per capita standard set by the World Bank,” he shared with host Zahir Kelvin Ong Abdullah on the Money Matters programme, which was streamed live on TV3’s Tonton platform today.
Abang Johari highlighted the crucial task ahead, which is to sustain this high-income position. To achieve this, the immediate objective is to equitably distribute income across the population, employing diverse strategies to elevate household earnings.
“This is where talent development is pivotal in this pursuit, as well as initiating new industries and aggressively pursuing the petrochemical sector to generate certain revenue of income for the local people,” he explained.
A noteworthy stride in this direction, he continued, has been the establishment of five international schools by the Sarawak government, catering to intellectually capable students from both rural and urban backgrounds.
“These schools provide free international education based on the Cambridge curriculum, offering a pathway for bright children, particularly those from less privileged rural B40 families, to access quality education.
“Furthermore, Sarawak (the only State in Malaysia) also recognises the Unified Examination Certification (UEC) for Chinese independent schools,” he said.
The primary objective, he added, is to cultivate a pool of human capital proficient in languages including English and Chinese, as well as excelling in mathematics and science, to continue shaping Sarawak’s future.
Abang Johari also highlighted the continued importance of the agriculture sector, underlining the necessity of smart practices such as precision farming integrated with technological advancements.
“Within seven years, I am confident that we will successfully transition Sarawak to greater heights,” he added. — DayakDaily
