KUCHING: Leaders of the Sarawak Civil Service (SCS) must have the conviction and courage to push and unleash their best to translate the ambitious goals in the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 into a collective reality.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg stated that heads of departments, permanent secretaries and leaders of SCS units play a crucial role in Sarawak’s successes.
“The missing link between our aspirations and ability to incur the necessary change and achieve the aspiration is the leadership energy to evoke mindset and behaviour transformation in ourselves to elevate our performance.
“Each of us has the power to identify and shift our own energies to more constructive behaviours and attitudes to better serve our state and society,” he said.
His speech was read out by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas at the launching of the “Transformation via Conversations” Supporting SCS Leadership Transformation via Coaching on Wednesday (March 16) at Pullman Hotel here.
Abang Johari recalled his desire to pursue a digital economy policy when he took over from the late Pehin Sri Adenan in 2017, which prompted the organisation of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) to gather inputs and chart the way forward.
This was followed by Sarawak’s success to form the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS), the take-over of Bakun hydroelectric dam, the formation of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) and TVS among others.
“It has not been easy though. For instance, as you know, we had to fight with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) in court before they agreed to pay the five per cent State Sales Tax (SST) and we had to deal with a federal government that was not so friendly during its 22-months rule.
“However, we persevered and were resolute in our conviction. As such, we must have the conviction and courage to do things that will transform Sarawak,” he stressed.
Among the ambitious goals that Sarawak wants to achieve by the year 2030 are elevating the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) to RM282 billion; grow the economy at six per cent to eight per cent per annum and create 195,000 new job opportunities.
Besides that, to raise Sarawak household income to RM15,000 per month, reduce the urban and rural development gaps as well as improve work efficiency, enhance productivity via data and digital innovation.
Also present were Deputy State Secretary (Performance and Service Delivery Transformation) Datuk Dr Sabariah Putit and Deputy Minister in the Office of the Premier of Sarawak (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala.
