THE leadership of Pakatan Harapan, including DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, was impressed with Sarawak’s new economic approach on seeking new sustainable revenue bases which aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Satok assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki said apart from the acknowledgement from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Loke praised Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s new economic model.
“However, it seems that the Sarawak DAP took a different path, indirectly defying their whip in Kuala Lumpur and they are not singing the same song, it seems.
“Maybe they are coming from a different camp. I don’t know whether it is the (DAP national chairman) Lim Guan Eng camp or the (Penang DAP chairman) Chow Kon Yeow camp, or perhaps another camp. Or perhaps Sarawak camp against Semenanjung camp,” he said.
As for the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) or Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), he said, there is only one camp, which is the camp of the Premier, assemblyman for Gedong.
When debating the 2024 State Budget at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here on Thursday (Nov 23), Ibrahim said, the three new ordinances which were passed in this DUN session will definitely escalate our revenue base.
He said the Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Bill, 2023 giving birth to clear rules and regulations pertaining to carbon capture, carbon credit and carbon trading will attract and give confidence to investors and financial institutions.
Meanwhile, the Distribution of Gas (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which provide for the appointment of our own Gas Aggregator will expand and facilitate the distribution of gas to consumers and industries who require gas for their businesses.
“This also will undoubtedly attract more downstream activities for industrialists internationally with new technologies thereby bringing further economic spinoffs and increasing our gross domestic product (GDP),” he said.
Lastly, he said, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which will provide the development of clean renewable Energy such as solar power and cascading hydropower (perhaps will pump storage) will increase Sarawak’s momentum in the production of clean renewable energy, the excess of which are exported, for example, to Kalimantan, Indonesia and Singapore.
“It is highly probable that this will be expanded to Semenanjung Malaysia, Sabah and Brunei,” he said.
