KUCHING: Sarawak will continue to increase efforts in replanting forests in areas that have been explored, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“We are very proud because over 60 percent of our state’s area is still covered by forests,” he said at a state dinner in conjunction with Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s 84th birthday celebration on Saturday.
Abang Johari said that the state government held on to its principle of environmental sustainability in every aspects of development.
According to him, environmental sustainability was one of three pillars upon which the Sarawak Economic Action Council’s (SEAC) post Covid-19 economic recovery strategy towards 2030 was based, with the other two pillars being economic prosperity and an inclusive society.
“The state government will always strive to make Sarawak a clean and healthy state which will be the legacy of future generations,” he said.
Abang Johari added that the state government was also actively enhancing the capabilities of data and innovation centres, especially in meeting the needs of the local and global economic sectors.
“The data and innovation centres which are now being developed in Sarawak will play a key role in generating economic growth in our state,” he said.
He pointed out that Big Data was now the new oil in the economy.
“The enhancement of the capabilities of these data and innovation centres will support the needs of all branches of digital services such as digital ID, digital wallet, Big Data, blockchain, fintech, virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence,” he said.
