KUCHING: Southeast Asian nations must look towards forming an integrated economy among their countries, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
This, he said, is for the benefit of the countries in terms of economic development, trade and mobility.
“We must have an integrated vision for the whole of ASEAN. We already have an ASEAN power grid where Sarawak is supplying power to West Kalimantan and I promised 1 GW of power to Singapore and 1 GW to West Malaysia.
“We have a common corridor for undersea cables and from West Malaysia, there is a grid to Laos. This will integrate ASEAN and we can create the mobility similar to that of the European Union (EU) where we can go anywhere.
“In this regard, there must be an agreement between ASEAN countries and if this happens, our friends in the Far East have to acknowledge our integrated economy,” he said when speaking to Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan, co-hosts of the Keluar Sekejap podcast which aired on Monday (July 22).
Abang Johari said with the close link between the nations, it would also mean less conflicts in the South China Sea.
The Premier said the energy sector is crucial for the development of the countries in ASEAN, adding that Sarawak is playing a part in it.
“We want to integrate (the economy) with our friends in the region, particularly our neighbour country Indonesia. Kalimantan is only 20 minutes by plane.
“That is why we need to develop in sync and is also why we want to build a new airport in Kuching, modelled from the airport in Doha, Qatar,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said Sarawak is being recognised by the world community for its hydrogen economy.
“I am invited to Sydney, Australia next month to give a talk on hydrogen. Two months ago, I was in Poland. I also just received an invitation from Hong Kong to share on hydrogen and the economy,” he said.
