KUCHING: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has laid down a clear roadmap towards economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic through the Post-COVID-19 Strategic Development 2030 (PCDS 2030) and realign the policies towards a greener and decarbonised earth.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak government has high hopes of increasing the state’s revenue that now stood at about RM11 billion, the biggest so far in Sarawak’s history.
He said the state was setting up its very own sovereign fund to save and invest for the future generations of Sarawakians while the law for setting up the fund was recently passed in the Dewan Undangan Negeri. It should be up and running by 2024 with an initial capital injection of RM8 billion.
He said the fund would not only provide for Sarawakians during the rainy days but may allow the state government to provide free education to Sarawakians in the future.
“As a government we have laid down everything possible within our power to create a better future for Sarawak and its people,” he said in his Christmas 2022 and New Year 2023 message today.
“We are upgrading our infrastructure in a big way, both road and Internet, develop our human resource and talent as these are pre-requisites to bring our economy to the next level in line with the demand of the world’s current mega trends.
“Not only are we trying to develop our infrastructure within the state but also air connectivity with other regions to facilitate air travel for tourists and business travellers. Therefore, we are setting up the state’s boutique airline for this purpose where profit is not the primary motivation.
Abang Johari said Sarawak was also tapping the potentials of its resources and embarking on a journey together with the rest of the world towards a greener and decarbonised earth in order to reverse climate change.
He said the state has big prospects in hydrogen production as clean fuel of the future, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), carbon trading and green bio-fuel from micro-algae.
Apart from the various development plans and progress, he assured that the GPS government would always preserve the religious freedom in this state and that no elements of extremism of any religion would be allowed to affect the harmony of society and the unity of the people of many races and religions in the ‘Land of the Hornbills’.
He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the people of Sarawak, who had given strong support to GPS in the recently concluded 15th general election (GE15).
“This will allow GPS to bring a louder voice from Sarawak to the Parliament; it also shows that the Sarawakians have placed their trust and confidence in GPS to fight and safeguard the interests of Sarawak,” he pointed out.
Abang Johari said the GPS government had supported the Unity Government as proposed by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to ensure the country’s stability.
With the appointment of a Deputy Prime Minister and four full ministers from Sarawak in the unity government’s Cabinet, he said, Sarawak is given a great responsibility to ensure the smooth running of the country’s administration for the next five years.
Meanwhile, the GPS government will continue to prioritise the interests and rights of Sarawak as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The formation of GPS as an independent political entity, he said, was a crucial step to ensure the voices of Sarawak would continue to be heard at the national/ federal level.
“Lastly, I would like to wish all Sarawakians a Happy New Year 2023 and sincerely hope that the New Year will bring more success to Sarawak and its people.
“My family and I also wish everyone a Merry Christmas,” he added.
