By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 3: The Sarawak government is studying the relationship model between Scotland and the United Kingdom (UK) as a reference for developing a mechanism to distribute carbon levy revenues and regulatory powers between the State and federal governments.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) report, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said it is crucial in Sarawak’s efforts to receive a fair share of returns from its natural resources, particularly in emerging sectors such as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS).
“The key question is how carbon levies are shared between the federal and State governments.
“Therefore, we (the Sarawak government) are studying the model adopted between Scotland and the UK in determining a fair and balanced approach to revenue sharing and power distribution,” he said.
He said this during the ‘Fireside Chat Session: Sarawak’s Global Vision—Sustainability, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships’, held as part of Sarawak Connects 2025 in London on Friday (May 2).
Abang Johari also highlighted that Sarawak is currently leading the way in developing a sustainable carbon industry, having implemented the first legal framework in Malaysia focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Touching on the management of strategic natural resources such as thorium and rare earth elements, he stressed that Sarawak is not content with remaining merely a raw material exporter.
Instead, the State is determined to establish a complete value chain from upstream to downstream activities.
“To achieve this objective, we are collaborating with international agencies and investors who possess the relevant expertise and technology. If there is synergy, we can move forward together.
“To date, Sarawak has received substantial investments from South Korea, Japan, and China. We are now exploring potential collaborations with European nations to diversify and expand our global investment network in a balanced manner.
“We aim to activate policies and economic activities rooted in our strengths, and I am confident that this approach is already beginning to bear fruit,” he added.
The session was moderated by Lord Jonathan Marland, who is the chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.
Sarawak Deputy Premiers, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Sarawak Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, and Federal-State Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry, and Investment, Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh; Sarawak Attorney General, Dato Sri Saferi Ali; Sarawak Financial Secretary, Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning, and Development), Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel; and senior Sarawak government officials were also present. — DayakDaily
