SINGAPORE: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has ambitious plans to ramp up infrastructure development in Sarawak and turn it into an investment hub for green energy and emerging technologies by 2030, according to news reports by Singaporean daily, The Straits Times.
In a recent interview, he said that Singapore had made efforts to build up its economy decades ago.
“When Singapore left Malaysia, the late Lee Kuan Yew… and Goh Keng Swee had a very good model.
“What they did was change the whole of Orchard Road. Your EDB (Economic Development Board) really put extra effort in (building) your airport.
“Then you have your port facilities… When you have a good Orchard Road, tourism, a very important sector, will come in. People can see the future of Singapore through your airport,” he told The Straits Times.
Abang Johari also insisted that a good public transport network was essential for real estate development to spread beyond the city centre, and to attract tourists and expatriates.
“People criticised me, especially about digital economies. When the pandemic hit, then they realised the importance of e-commerce,” he said.
He stressed that corruption remained an issue to be tackled as the state developed, and there was a need to look at various models to curb corruption.
He also noted that Singapore’s move decades ago to revise civil servants’ salaries to tackle graft and instil professionalism and ethics among them was an effective step.
