By DayakDaily Team
MANILA, Sept 8: Sarawak’s economy needs to remain integrated with the Asean economy to strengthen its position in the regional economic value chain, particularly through the energy and resource-based industries sectors.
According to a TVS report, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak has a major advantage in terms of its energy resources, which could serve as a key driver of the State’s economic development while supporting the growth of new industries.
He said energy was among the important factors determining the direction of economic development, and Sarawak’s resources therefore needed to be strategically leveraged to meet future needs.
“Energy is among the most important factors in determining the direction of economic development. Therefore, Sarawak needs to strategically leverage the resources it possesses to meet future needs,” he said during a fireside chat at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters here today.
Abang Johari also stressed the importance of the Asean Power Grid in strengthening energy connectivity and integrating the economies of Asean member states.
He said the initiative would require a common framework, including from the legal perspective, to enable cross-border energy sharing to be implemented more effectively.
He added that Sarawak has a long-term development vision extending to 2030 and 2035, with the energy sector serving as one of the key foundations in achieving these targets.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said Sarawak would continue working with the federal government on matters requiring joint coordination, while leveraging the State’s jurisdiction based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He also highlighted Bintulu’s potential as an emerging low-carbon industrial cluster, which could create opportunities for Sarawak to attract more investment and industries that prioritise clean energy use and low-carbon production processes.
“Sarawak’s development policy is now increasingly shifting towards an approach that combines economic growth with environmental sustainability,” he said.
According to him, Sarawak wants to provide a sustainable energy supply to industry players to ensure the state remains competitive and capable of participating in a global market that is increasingly placing greater emphasis on sustainability standards.
He added that economic integration with Asean and the strengthening of the energy sector would be among the key factors in ensuring Sarawak continues to grow as a competitive economy in the region. — DayakDaily
