KOTA SAMARAHAN: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has hinted that the state revenue for 2023 is expected to surpass the record set in 2022.
Sarawak exceeded the actual revenue expectations for the 2022 fiscal year with a total income of RM12 billion, the highest ever recorded.
He said the state’s recognition as a high-income state by the World Bank is based on economic data statistics, indicating that the economy is progressing exceptionally well.
“Inshallah, in three weeks, I will announce the 2023 revenue, which appears to be able to break the 2022 record,” he said in his speech at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 27th Convocation Ceremony at DeTAR PUTRA here, today.
With the increasing state revenue, Abang Johari assured that the state government is committed to implementing large-scale infrastructure projects, such as road networks, to accelerate economic growth and investment in the resource-rich rural areas.
The biggest challenge is to reduce the urban-rural divide and develop the largest state in Malaysia, which requires dedication, determination, and high-level thinking, he said.
To support continued development in Sarawak, which covers an area nearly equivalent to Peninsular Malaysia, Abang Johari said the formation of a state-owned boutique airline that will operate to selected destinations in the Asian region, will have a positive impact on the tourism sector by improving accessibility to attractive destinations in Sarawak and Borneo.
Moreover, he said the initiative will boost the state’s income through the growth of the tourism and trade sectors, providing broader economic opportunities for the local population.
“The establishment of an airline based in Sarawak is also in line with the rapid growth in Borneo, which is set to become a global focal point when the Indonesian capital Nusantara, in East Kalimantan, opens in the future.
“I believe that with its strategic geographical location, Sarawak has the potential to become a hub for various forms of cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia in the future,” he added.
