BY NATASHA JEE, NURA VALENTIANA LORNA & GABRIEL LIHAN
KUCHING: The Sarawak government, led by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, is committed to continuing its push for excellence.
During a two-hour ‘Seven Years with the Premier’ Townhall Session held at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre on Saturday night, Abang Johari shared how his Cabinet wants to bring the Land of the Hornbill towards developed state status by 2030.
The session was moderated by TV host, Sayed Munawar with co-moderators political analyst Professor Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian and entrepreneur Mona Abdul Manap.
Following is an unabridged text of the townhall session:
Mona: How did you envision your seven years and was this how you hoped it would unfold?
Premier: Firstly, I express my utmost appreciation and gratitude to the people of Sarawak who have entrusted me and my colleagues in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to manage and administer the state.
I was appointed as the Chief Minister in 2017 after the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem (Tok Nan) passed away. Without notice, I have been given the trust to govern a large region in Malaysia, a huge state with many challenges. But, with the support and unity of our people, we have been able to administer the state well.
One crucial thing I see is that I have 40 years of experience in the administration of Sarawak under the leadership of Tun Pehin Sri Taib. After that, Tok Nan albeit for a short period. So, I believe this experience serves as a foundation for me to develop the state in what I see as a new era.
That is why I immediately implemented the digital economy policy because, in my opinion, through my readings and experiences, the way you do business and administer the country, you must utilise the latest technology.
Although initially, many were skeptical, and wondered, “What does Abang Jo want with these new methods – new technology?” But for me, I see the future. We have experience behind us, but the world has changed.
Due to digitalisation, since the shift to chip usage, this provides a new way as it no longer relies on paper and old ways, but it is faster. Hence, in 2018, I boosted the digital economy, laying the foundation for our efforts to develop Sarawak.
Alhamdulillah, with these new methods, and when we faced COVID-19. In 2019 and 2020, we saw the people of Sarawak engaging in online businesses, even buying ‘terubok’ fish online, and using Sarawak Pay for payments. Sarawak was the first state to use it. This is very important.
On Friday, I discussed with the federal Health Minister on when we were hit by COVID-19, we wanted to restrict and monitor the entry of tourists into Sarawak. We used tracing through our own apps, being the first state to use tracing.
Our federal counterparts asked me how? I said, we just put a wristband and trace it. This is what is referred to as the benefit of using technology. During the COVID-19 period, it was a test for us, and Alhamdulillah, the people of Sarawak were able to use technology.
Dr Siva: How does Sarawak move forward? Surely, all this requires stability and for Sarawak to achieve a developed state by 2030? Can you share with us, what is that stability formula that strengthens the state? Because in seven years, we have seen remarkable achievements and being recognised domestically and internationally. Where is this stability built?
Indeed, we need an atmosphere of peace and harmony, which exists through mutual respect. Respect one another. In Sarawak, and even in Malaysia, there are many ethnic groups and religious beliefs.
Under my leadership, in Sarawak, I adhere to the Medina Charter as a Muslim and a Muslim leader. I see the leadership example set by Prophet Muhammad. In the context of the Medina Charter, it emphasises providing justice to all.
Dr Siva: That unity is a good example in Sarawak and outside Sarawak. But before that, Datuk Patinggi, which team do you support in football? Manchester United?
Usually, Manchester United; they ‘boleh tahan’ (not bad). And even though Liverpool says, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Dr Siva: So that is the unity. So, how is this unity built? Because often Sarawak is cited as an example in society for unity. How can they live together? What needs to be learned by those outside and inside the state or the country, as it is the foundation that cannot be compromised as we navigate 2030?
Because the people of Sarawak live like that, as a family. The people of Sarawak have a tradition of mutual respect. We live under one roof and we work together. From a young age, we lived together with other communities, the Iban, Malay, Chinese. Some Malays even speak Mandarin.
And this creates a sense of familiarity among Sarawak’s ethnic groups. Moreover, intermarriage. The Chinese marry Malays, Malays marry Iban, Iban marry Bidayuh, creating Sarawakian hybrids. So, there is no sensitivity. When a Malay marries a Chinese, they participate in the tea ceremony.
The Chinese family, in turn, witnesses the marriage ceremony. Sometimes using our traditional clothes. Malays wearing Chinese attire, and vice versa with Iban and Bidayuh. We live in a family atmosphere.
As the Malay saying goes, “Cubit yang kanan, kiri sakit” (Pinch the right, the left hurts). So, if you touch one community, I also feel it. If you touch the Iban, we feel it. Touch Chinese, we feel it. If Chinese touch Malays, they feel it too.
This becomes a common philosophy of life. And in this, I feel that Alhamdulillah, Sarawak has been able to maintain this position. That is why, I beg your pardon, outsiders who are extremists, we close the door, we request them not to come.
Because, what happens is that what is small (issue) can become big. From the past until now, Sarawak has lived harmoniously. And we use this stability to help the people.
Sayed Munawar: Last year, Sarawak was estimated to generate revenue of RM12.7 billion. But there was a revision where the revenue was actually RM13.3 billion? This is the highest revenue record as compared to other states. So, how was this achievable? What is the secret?
The secret is in these books. The Federal Constitution, the Constitution of Sarawak, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and this is the Cobbold Commission. These four are my Bible.
We have some provisions where we have the power to look for revenue for Sarawak.
That is why I wanted to implement the sales tax on Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas). Petronas cannot be disturbed. But I said, we have the power under the constitution to impose sales tax.
From an economic point of view, this is an important instrument in generating income. And I did it. Besides that, our economy must be diversified. We cannot rely on oil and gas. And I see what has been happening in the world since 1997, people have been talking about climate change.
So, I see that Sarawak’s economy must follow what the world requires today. That is why I diversify our resources. And, with the State Sales Tax (SST) on Petronas, and others that we implemented, it has provided returns to Sarawak.
Our estimate was RM12.7 billion, and I informed the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) in November, the estimated revenue was RM12.7 billion. In 2022, we had RM11.9 billion. In 2021, it increased after COVID-19. And it keeps increasing.
By the end of December, my financial officer informed me, there are dividends. I myself was surprised. And the most important thing is that the investments we made have yielded results, and at the end of last year, we received RM13.3 billion. A record high.
Mona: You mentioned the high income state which was declared by the World Bank. But we are also the bottom two in terms of median income in Malaysia? How do we narrow the gap?
What happens is, when we have income higher than 2022, I didn’t know that the World Bank was watching us. The World Bank looks at our income and our economy. So, they declared us as a high-income state based on the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.
To answer your remark on the median income, how to translate this and we increase median and household income? A rich state means the people must be rich. So, after COVID-19, I launched the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030. And I see that we have resources. These resources must be managed well.
How do we increase household income? For me, in the PCDS, I emphasise on talent development. Some Chinese say, “Don’t give them fish but teach them how to catch fish”. In other words, you have to upgrade the skills and knowledge. Poverty can only be fought or settled through education.
Nelson Mandela said education can change the world. Malcolm X said the blacks can compete with the whites if they have the skill and knowledge. The people of Sarawak can compete with any others provided they have skills and knowledge.
That is why we emphasise education. I’m sorry, but currently, our education, we do not know the national education policies – a bit of this, a bit of that, people are confused. So, in Sarawak, we say language is important, besides Bahasa Malaysia, which is mandatory. We also retain English. So, both – Bahasa Malaysia and English.
Some say we are not patriotic. That is not the case, we emphasise on both. Language is identity, is the identity of the country. We focus on it. But at the same time, we must not neglect something that is very important to our people.
English is not just the language of the whites. It is an international language. If you want to be an international player, use the international rules, language is one of them. So, I believe that if we provide good education to our children, we can fight poverty.
Therefore, in the near future, God willing, I have a target in 2026 to provide free tertiary education to all Sarawakians. We ask Sarawakians to study in disciplines related to the new economy.
If there are too many social science graduates, it is also difficult. You’ll create unemployed graduates. Later, parents in the villages will say, “My child went to university, why can’t they find a job?” So, our policy must be balanced, and we prioritise technology in the new economy.
Audience: Could the Premier provide further explanation about Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), an important aspect for Sarawak, and how does it bring benefits to the people?
CCUS is a relatively new matter. As we know, the world is currently experiencing global warming due to the thinning of the ozone layer. Additionally, carbon-intensive development is significant.
If our temperature exceeds 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius from the post-industrial era, the world and our planet will face significant problems. Scientists argue that if there is an excess of carbon resulting from economic activities, especially in constructions and aviation, thus carbon must be captured and stored.
This is a new approach, and many ask how to capture carbon? Some even question if we capture carbon and transport it by lorry? This causes greenhouse problems. Thus, we have methods to capture carbon and store it underground. I went to Europe to study this.
And in Sarawak’s continental shelf, the area is safe. And the geological condition is suitable for storing carbon. I was made to understand that in Sarawak, there are four such stable geological locations, and one of it is Sarawak shores. This is a blessing from God. So, when we store carbon in the ground, it cannot be free. Those who store carbon must come with payment, so this becomes a revenue stream for Sarawak.
Sayed Munawar: Do we have estimates of revenue from the CCUS, Datuk Patinggi?
There are two aspects. One is storing our carbon, and the other is the vast number of trees and forests we have. These act as carbon sinks through photosynthesis. So, storing this carbon becomes a revenue stream for Sarawak.
