KUCHING: Sarawak is targeting to increase the average household income to RM15,000 per month as it moves toward becoming a developed state by 2030.
Deputy State Secretary Datuk Hii Chang Kee said the state government is committed to ensure everyone enjoys social inclusivity, economic prosperity and a sustainable environment, under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
“When we talk about social inclusivity, we want everyone to enjoy or benefit from the economic growth or prosperity. Thus, we are targeting to increase the average household income to RM15,000 per month as well as to ensure every household has the internet connection or coverage by 2030,” he said.
In order to become a high-income state, he said, Sarawak needs to achieve an economic growth rate of between six and eight per cent annually to double the size of its economy to RM282 billion.
The strategy is not only about economic growth, but also give equal emphasis on maintaining environmental sustainability, hence, Sarawak aimed to reduce carbon emissions by at least 45 per cent.
Sarawak, he said, strategically located In Southeast Asia has an ideal climate for investment as well; with various business-friendly policies and initiatives to shore up the confidence of local and foreign investors.
“Thus, we hope and welcome more businesses to consider investing here,” he said at the Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCGCCI)Young Entrepreneur Forum 2023 held here yesterday.
Apart from that, Sarawak, being the largest state in the country, without race and religious issues, is also a place to become a ‘second home’.
Hii said Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) is a separate programme run by the federal government; with ‘more attractive’ requirements.
For instance, he said the S-MM2H required a mandatory opening of fixed deposit accounts (with any local banks in Sarawak) with minimum amount of RM150, 000 for individual and RM300,000 for couples; however, those applying for the programme in Peninsular Malaysia, need a fixed deposit of RM1 million.
Besides that, he said, another requirement is that all S-MM2H pass holders also require a minimum annual stay duration in Sarawak for 30 days a year whereby in Peninsular Malaysia, it is 90 days.
To date, there are a total of 2,043 participants in the S-MM2H since its introduction in 2007; with 323 participants from England, which is the highest, followed by China (279), Hong Kong (205) Taiwan (194), United States (174), Singapore (174), Korea (126), among others.
