SERIAN: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has asserted that if Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is given a mandate by the people, he will form a sovereign fund by next year for the future of Sarawak.
“There is an approach called capital maximisation under sovereign fund. So our future is bright and we can have savings,” he said.
He pointed out that countries such as Norway, Singapore, and Brunei had their sovereign fund and thus Sarawak should also prepare for this.
“And if the people give a mandate back to me, we will do it by next year,” he said when officiating at the launching ceremony of the Serian Division Sarawak Government Administrative Centre here on |Saturday (Nov 27).
He said this was the state government’s long-term strategy. He added that with good income, the state government could help the people of Sarawak.
“We in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government have a long-term strategy to develop our state,” he said.
Abang Johari noted that previously, allocations to Sarawak had been limited due to the policies of the former Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government.
“But I prayed to find a way – we had to find a solution to that,” he said.
He said the state government thus fought to impose the five percent State Sales Tax (SST) on petroleum products, including taking Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) to court over the matter.
He said the implementation of SST provided Sarawak with additional revenue.
“In three years, we have collected about RM7 billion from SST,” he said.
The ceremony also saw the presentation of appointment certificates to community leaders and village chiefs of Serian Division.
Also present were Tebedu incumbent Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong; Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem; State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion; and other representatives.
