We are united in diversity. Sarawak is like a garden full of colourful flowers, so beautiful and so unique, and the commitment of the government is to ensure that this is continuously maintained.
— Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Deputy Premier
I am going to take a short break in the chronicles of my life in this column to talk about Sarawak today. I was in Sarawak last week on a business delegation organised by the Sarawak Business Federation and the National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia and had the pleasure of personally hearing Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg speak passionately about his desire to put Sarawak on the global map while preserving her culture and heritage.
It was one of the most exhilarating speeches I have ever heard, and trust me, in my profession and industry, I have heard a lot of speeches by many global leaders and a lot of local ones too. In fact, as part of the public relations services we offer, we craft and write scintillating speeches adapted for a discerning audience.
And with this experience and expertise, I can confidently say, Abang Johari’s speech was in a league of its own. I was mesmerised by him and the way he strategised about a state he is in love with.
Here is a man on a mission. A man who does not see his leadership role as a given, but as a labour of love. For 45 minutes, without reading from notes, he spoke eloquently, firmly, passionately and with a deep desire to do whatever it takes to create a New Sarawak — one that is bountiful for her people, appealing to an international audience of tourists and investors and sustainable for the future.
The take-back from that speech was this. Sarawak is the hidden gem of Southeast Asia, and she is starting to spread her powerful wings and rise to her highest potential.
I did some more research and the facts speak for themselves.
If Sarawak were a nation by itself, it would rank highly among all other ASEAN countries and be a key contributor to the growth of the region. A region that is expected to be the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030, with a combined GDP of US$4.3 trillion.
In 2020, Sarawak had a nominal GDP per capita of approximately US$11,575. This was higher than every country in ASEAN, with the exception of Singapore, Brunei and (arguably) Malaysia. I say arguably because Malaysia’s GDP per capita also includes Sarawak. Take Sarawak out of the equation and it would likely be lower.
Sarawak’s score on the UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.745, which classifies it as having high HDI. Again, this is higher than every other country in ASEAN except for Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia.
There is one university for approximately every 350,000 people in Sarawak. In comparison, there is one university for approximately every 850,000 people in Indonesia, one for every 420,000 in Thailand, and one for every 680,000 people in the Philippines.
So advantage to Sarawak … Again.
Sarawak is blessed with natural resources, which include tropical timber, coal, clay, silica sand, oil palm, oil and natural gas, to name a few. Add to that, the fact that it is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with a rich variety of flora and fauna which makes it a hotspot for biotechnology.
Sarawak has the potential to power ASEAN. Setting aside its coal, oil and natural gas, Sarawak also has hydropower potential of 20,000MW.
She also has leadership that sees beyond the present and visualises a future that allows her the freedom to fly. To spread her wings far and wide. And use that same benevolent wings to protect her people from negative external influences and preserve the pristine uniqueness that makes Sarawak an almost magical place to live in.
There is harmony forged through the way all the races and natives come together as one people irrespective of ethnicity or religion. This is beautiful to watch.
The sophisticated maturity of how the people of Sarawak treat diversity in life rises beyond the division that the world is subjected to by those who have an agenda to divide and rule. In fact, the world could take a lesson from how Sarawak’s leaders do not manipulate race or religion to divide their people and make them afraid of one another.
A nation divided by fear of one another, is a nation that is not focused on moving forward and building itself. And so it is assuring to see one our states lifting itself up to set visionary precedence and future-proofing pathways that trailblaze to a glorious era for her people.
Whatever the human mind perceives, the human mind achieves. The Premier of Sarawak certainly has the unshakeable mindset that will create the desired reality. All he needs is the support of like-minded visionaries to ensure Sarawak’s wings take her on an exponential rise to Infinity and Beyond!
Join me again next week in Through The Looking Glass!
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune. Feedback can reach the writer at beatrice@ibrasiagroup.com
