KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing has lauded Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on Thursday (July 22).
He said the Sarawak government injecting RM63 bln into infrastructure development under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) for the next five years was the right approach to eradicating poverty.
“Unless and until Sarawak develops its infrastructure and creates accessibility to all regions in the state, we will not be able to eradicate poverty.
“As pointed out by Abang Johari, in the next five years, when our infrastructure development like coastal highway, second trunk road, bridges, and Pan Borneo Highway are completed, Sarawak will be ready to move forward,” he said on Thursday.
Masing said China was a classic example of how to eradicate poverty in rural areas.
“China has spent billions in building infrastructure all over. And now China is the second richest nation in the world, from a poverty stricken country in the 1950s.”
Masing, who is also Sarawak Infrastructure and Ports Development Minister, said what was carried out by Abang Johari was the right thing.
“Sarawakians must know that change for the sake of changing is not the best for this country.”
On Thursday, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government had committed an estimated RM63 bln to implement PCDS 2030 under the 12MP whereby, RM30 bln would come from direct development expenditure and RM33 bln from alternative funding.
