KUCHING: The Sarawak government has engaged several academics and professionals to facilitate devising of a new policy on forestry in the state as part of its efforts to fulfil its environmental sustainability agenda.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg today said the experts engaged were currently working out and deliberating on a new approach to develop the forestry sector in Sarawak.
“Our next agenda of development up to 2030 will be through the core development of digital economy and environmental sustainability. We want to protect our environment and we are going to have a new policy on forestry…with the hope that we can also claim carbon credits,” he said.
He was speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the development of Panggau Dayak Towers, a two 10-storey building project by the Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF) and Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), here.
He lauded the efforts of the two Dayak organisations which had planned to have the twin towers achieve green building status upon their completion, which would go in tandem with the state government’s development approach until 2030.
Abang Johari said the development, carried out in the city’s prime area, would be very significant to portray the Dayak community’s achievements in Sarawak, as well as to reflect the inclusive policy of the state government.
He said with the three major races of Dayak, Malay-Melanau and Chinese having almost the same proportion to form part of Sarawak’s population, the state government would have to adopt a common platform to ensure all communities would get equal opportunities.
“We know that no one community can rule the state. It must be a collective responsibility of all the kaum (communities) to develop this state and that will be my political platform. We cannot go away from that. Therefore, the approach of inclusivity must be there,” he said.
Meanwhile, DCF chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who also spoke at the ceremony, said the project was aimed to be accomplished by 2022 and with the completion, DCF would have new state-of-the-art facilities for dancers and cultural performers, as well as a gallery space.
“The DCCI in its role as a chamber for business to the Dayak community will be providing shared office space for Dayaks who are starting out in business from any town in the state,” he added. – Bernama
