KUCHING: The COVID-19 pandemic enabled Sarawak to leap to greater heights, especially in the economic sector.
Describing it as a blessing in disguise, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg stated that the pandemic allowed Sarawak to venture into new strategies and initiatives for its economic recovery.
“One of them is that we have ventured into the green economy, where we use natural resources to generate green energy, such as hydrogen.
“With the resources that we have, we will be able to produce 100 tonnes of hydrogen by 2025, which we will supply to buyers overseas.
“Aside from that, we were also blessed with the biggest carbon storage capacity in offshore areas here,” he said at the New Year’s 2023 Countdown at Stadium Perpaduan here tonight (Dec 31).
While reflecting on the milestones achieved in 2022, Abang Johari said the state government ensured various development projects were taking place in Sarawak.
He noted that various agencies and regional agencies were established to focus on the development project in rural areas.
At the same time, he highlighted the establishment of the Sarawak Sovereign Future Fund as one of the major achievements of the year.
He said the fund will safeguard the future generations of Sarawakians and is key to realising the ambition of providing free education to the people.
“Alhamdulillah, with the increase of the income in the state, we were able to establish this fund.
“With this, not only can we save our income, but we can also realise the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) dream of giving free education to the children of Sarawak,” he said.
Adding on, Abang Johari also stated that this year, Sarawak also saw a deputy prime minister, five full ministers and six deputy ministers being appointed in the Unity Government.
“This is thanks to the political stability that Sarawak has. With this good political situation, we hope that we can continue to develop a good government for the people.
“And these are the several major achievements that Sarawak has achieved as a result of political stability and strong multi-racial unity in the state,” he said.
