STOCKHOLM: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and a state government entourage arrived here on Sunday night (Aug 20) as part of a two-day official working visit to Sweden.
Abang Johari, who was accompanied by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and State Secretary Datuk Amar Abu Bakar Marzuki arrived at 9 pm local time.
Also in the entourage are Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya and Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
Meanwhile, the Premier was welcomed by the Malaysian Ambassador to Sweden Hafizah Abdullah, State Financial Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, State Attorney General Datuk Seri Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid, Sarawak Federal Secretary Ahmad Nazri Mohd Hassan, Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datuk Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel and several top government and government-linked companies (GLCs) officials.
Also accompanying Abang Johari is his wife, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang.
Today, the Premier will visit the Swedish Parliament to share experiences and observe the implementation of the ombudsman legislation there.
He had previously made known of the Sarawak government’s plan to strengthen the role and functions of its ombudsman system by enacting a legislation to place it under the state legislative assembly. Sweden is picked as a benchmarking partner as it is renowned for its rich and honourable legacy of upholding democratic principles, human rights, transparency, and accountability.
Apart from that, Abang Johari and members of his entourage will engage with Swedish energy authorities and power operators during the visit.
He is expected to proceed to Norway to gain insights into the development and operation of onshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen facilities in Bergen.
He is scheduled to meet with officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy as well as hold discussions with industry players in Norway on CCS, net-zero emissions, and decarbonisation initiatives.
Abang Johari will then fly to London to cap off the weeklong visit with a meeting with Shell’s top officials at the multinational’s headquarters in the British capital.
