By Sarah Hafizah Chandra & Noor Syahhira Hady
KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg says it is very challenging to develop basic infrastructures in Sarawak given the state’s geographical size with sparse population.
However, he said upon taking over the leadership of the state government he focused on developing basic infrastructures such as roads, bridges, electricity and water supply for the people.
“Developing basic infrastructures is costly but this is not a deterrent which is why we have our model for undertaking this. For instance, we had to explore alternatives when it comes to providing electricity and water supply to rural areas.
“This is where Sarawak Alternative Water Supply Programme (SAWAS) and Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Schemes (SARES) came in. SAWAS and SARES utilise new technology, it is costly but this is how we provide basic infrastructures to our people in the rural areas,” he said.
He was speaking during a ‘Bicara Hati Rakyat Bersama Abang Johari’ programme which was telecast over TVS on Saturday night.
Asked to comment on some people saying that the state government should focus on short-term development projects instead of long-term, Abang Johari said there must be certain visions and targets to achieve to contribute to Sarawak’s aspiration of becoming a developed and high-income state.
He said developing basic infrastructures is a process to reach the aspiration and it is a pragmatic economic approach.
“When I first mooted the digital economy agenda, many people were sceptical. When the COVID-19 pandemic happened, they realised that it was very useful and apt.
“Of course, development projects like electricity and water supply are mega in terms of their cost but at the end of the day, it is for the people. There is the rationality behind the policies and initiatives in developing our state,” he stressed.
Abang Johari said he had witnessed various transformations and developments taking place in Sarawak over the past 40 years.
Recalling his time as the Assistant Minister for Regional and Community Development in 1983, Abang Johari noted that Sarawak did not have basic infrastructures and the state’s economy was not strong with not much funding.
He said when Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud took over as the chief minister in 1987, Sarawak began to diversify its economy by developing the industrial sector and attracting investors.
He also said that Abdul Taib entrusted him with the task of triggering the new economy in the state.
“After the 1987 election I was appointed as the Minister for Industrial Development, I created a few policies to attract investors into the state. This was when we developed the Sejingkat Industrial Estate, Samajaya Industrial Estate and Kemena in Bintulu.
“I also travelled to meet and attract investors until we managed to get investors from Japan and the United States. This was the starting point of how we diversify our economy,” he said.
