By Amanda L
KUCHING, Aug 9: Sarawak’s high-income economy status measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita does not necessarily reflect household earnings particularly in rural communities, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the next phase of development should focus on ensuring economic growth translates into better incomes through education, skills development and new economic opportunities.
“While Sarawak has been recognised as a high-income economy by the World Bank since 2022, GDP per capita remains a broad indicator and does not reflect actual household income,” he said when officiating the 18th Triennial General Assembly of SABERKAS Sarawak in Sibu today.
Abang Johari said Sarawak also needed to prepare its younger generation for jobs in higher-value and emerging industries, with education and skills development forming an important part of that effort.
This includes the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) for eligible Sarawak students, which he said would help build a stronger pool of skilled workers for the State’s future economy.
At the same time, he stressed that graduates needed sufficient opportunities within Sarawak to put their skills to use, as better prospects elsewhere could encourage local talent to leave.
“If we build our economy now, maybe we can retain salaries at the same level,” he said.
He pointed to modern agriculture, energy and technology as areas with potential to create new sources of income, particularly as Sarawak moves towards higher-value economic activities.
The Premier said the challenge was to turn the State’s investments in education, technology and resources into opportunities that could improve incomes for households across Sarawak. — DayakDaily
