KUCHING: Sarawak is poised to become a model for Malaysia in the realm of green energy and the economy, thanks to the initiation of the green hydrogen hub project and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) projects in the state.
Federal Deputy Minister of Finance II, Steven Sim Chee Keong highlighted that Sarawak’s potential in these areas positions it as a leader in the transition to a green economy.
“The projects have commenced in Sarawak through collaboration between the federal government and national CCUS companies, marking the beginning of a new era for the state.
“We are stepping into the 21st-century economy, and Sarawak is taking its first steps in this direction,” he said at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) Belanjawan 2024 Negeri Sarawak Tour here on today (Sept 15).
He emphasised the ministry’s goal of strengthening and enhancing the intelligence of businesses in Malaysia, from large companies to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“The aim is for these businesses to compete at the global and Asian levels, particularly in high-income fields such as the green economy, digital economy, and high-technology economy.”
As part of the tour, the MoF extended the deadline for collecting suggestions and feedback on Belanjawan 2024 through the Cadangan Belanjawan 2024 portal by an additional week until Sept 22, 2023.
As of Sept 13, the tour has covered the entire country with nine state tours, attracting over 7,000 participants from various backgrounds, including trade chambers, economists, technocrats, non-governmental organisations, and the public.
Additionally, the MoF received over 9,500 responses on the Cadangan Belanjawan 2024 portal, encompassing areas such as environmental conservation, the green economy, good governance, digitalisation, fiscal management, and measures to uplift existing industries like creative and tourism.
The preparations for Belanjawan 2024 began with the unveiling of Ekonomi MADANI: Empowering the People on July 27, 2023, serving as a pre-Budget statement.
The framework sets the stage for the Unity Government’s policy papers to reshape Malaysia’s economy into a dynamic and equitable growth trajectory.
Policy papers launched so far include the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP), and the Mid-Term Review of the 12th Malaysia Plan, with Belanjawan 2024 to be tabled by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 13, presenting initiatives and measures for implementation in 2024 to achieve the targets outlined in Ekonomi MADANI: Empowering the People.
