KUCHING: Sarawak needs a well-trained and knowledgeable human capital with a world-class education system in order to become a high-income developed region by 2030.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said in addition to natural resources, knowledge-based human resources were crucial in developing the state.
“We can learn this from countries like Singapore and Japan; which are able to become economic powerhouses due to the strength of their human resources despite not having natural resources,” he said in his Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2023 message.
Therefore, he assured that Sarawak under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government would continue to strengthen the state’s education system in accordance with the provisions of Clause 17 of the Inter-Governmental Committee Report (IGC) which empowered Sarawak and Sabah to determine the policy of its own education system even though education was a matter under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak government was serious and committed to producing high quality human capital to fulfil the needs of the state.
This, he said, could be seen from the proposed establishment of five international schools, using the Cambridge syllabus in Sarawak, including the one in Kuching, which had already begun its operation.
Furthermore, Sarawak had four state-owned universities under Yayasan Sarawak, namely, Swinburne University of Technology, Curtin University, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and iCATS University College as well as a training centre, the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS), which had branch campuses throughout the state.
“We have also outlined the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 focusing on economic progress, social inclusion and environmental sustainability due to the drastic changes in the global landscape towards a sustainable future.
“Thus, I am confident that with the strategy outlined in PCDS 2030, Sarawak has the ability to continue to be on a solid path towards becoming a high-income developed region by 2030,” he added.
As for the Budget 2023 tabled by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Minister of Finance on Feb 24, Abang Johari said he welcomed it although the amount of RM5.6 billion allocated for Sarawak was insufficient.
“We should use it as best as possible to benefit the people; priority will be given to improving the roads, clinics and schools in the state.
“With the state’s income expected to continue to increase, the Sarawak government will also continue the construction of more roads and other utilities such as electricity and water supply in rural areas,” he added.
For the multiracial and multi-religious society in Sarawak, Abang Johari said it had become the norm for festivals such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Chinese New Year, Gawai Dayak or Christmas to be celebrated by all races in the state.
“I pray that harmony will continue to strengthen the unity among the various races and religions in the Land of the Hornbills,” he said.
“Lastly, I wish everyone of you Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir and Batin and may we all be blessed with good health,” he said.
