KUCHING: The Dayak community must unite in efforts to pursue development in various fields together with other communities in the state.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he does not want to see any community in Sarawak being left behind in mainstream development.
“Gawai Dayak is the identity of the Dayak community and it should serve as a unifying point for the Dayak people.
“Therefore, I hope that this festive season can be a platform for exchanging ideas and opinions in the effort to strengthen the unity and commitment of the Dayak community towards active involvement in the state’s development process,” he said in his Gawai message.
The Premier said with diligent efforts and the right attitude, the Dayak community can progress just like those who have already advanced.
He pointed out that the Dayak community possesses significant assets in the form of land ownership which should be empowered to generate income through various means.
He assured that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government would continue to strive to provide infrastructure facilities to support development efforts in rural areas.
“This endeavor involves significant expenditure, but I am confident that with the increasing state revenue, it can be implemented gradually through several local development agencies established by the state government,” he said.
Abang Johari expressed confidence that the future of the younger generation will be brighter with economic development programmes that will elevate Sarawak’s economy based on technology, data and innovation.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim noted that Sarawak is ahead of other states and the federal government in exploring a sustainable resource-based economy.
“For example, Sarawak already has the capacity to produce hydrogen gas used in several hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses and vehicles. The state also recently succeeded in producing green oil from algae for aviation industry needs which was used by an Airbus aircraft for the first time on a flight from Kuching to Langkawi.
“It may be difficult for the general public to believe that algae can produce oil, but with the involvement of major companies from Japan as well as Petronas, Airbus, and the Aerospace Malaysia Innovation Centre (AMIC) in partnership with Sarawak, there is no doubt that algae hold great promise for the state’s sustainable economy in the future,” he said.
