KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg believes that the state is capable of achieving high-income status by 2030.
“If we plan our policies thoroughly, based on our young talents and resources, Sarawak can achieve the developed state status by 2030,” he said.
He added that in order to achieve the vision, various initiatives have been planned and would be implemented under the 12th and 13th Malaysia Plans. The 12MP is set to begin from 2021 to 2025.
Speaking to nearly 8,000 people at the ‘Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2019’ held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) here yesterday, Abang Johari stressed that Sarawak must have its own mould (policies).
“We cannot follow the national policies 100 per cent, because sometimes it does not fit ours (Sarawak’s policies),” he explained.
During the townhall session, he also shared the state government’s fundamental policies which would lead to the success of becoming a high-income state.
The policies include change in farming methods (from conventional to modern); emphasis on the service and tourism industry; infrastructure development and talent development.
“Those are the four important thrusts that we place strong emphasis on,” said Abang Johari.
On the ‘Graduan Pulang Sarawak'(i-GPS) initiative, since its establishment last year, a total of 40,000 applications had been received from Sarawakian students.
Out of that figure, 12,000 applications have been approved.
Under the initiative, Sarawakian students who are studying in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan are given RM300, which enables them to return home (in Sarawak) during the festive seasons.
