KUCHING: World-class infrastructure is needed to make Sarawak’s 2030 aspirations a reality, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg stressed.
As such, the Chief Minister said the Sarawak government had been pumping in the necessary funds.
“It’s not easy to achieve Sarawak’s 2030 target. There are many challenges. We need to create a climate of confidence to encourage investors to invest in Sarawak, and Malaysia, as a whole.
“The state government has no option but to invest whatever funds we have to upgrade our infrastructure, including roads, bridges as well as water and electricity supply.
“Some of the bridges are costly but Sarawak has no option because coastal roads are very important to 65 percent of the population who reside in longhouses and villages,” he said during Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s special meeting with state and federal civil servants here today.
Abang Johari expressed his delight over Muhyiddin’s views on the agriculture sector.
He pointed out that agriculture transformation based on the Internet of Things has been given emphasis by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development Minister.
“I think we have a lucrative food market and as you know, Singapore is very concerned about food quality. This is why we established the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore as a link with the government and private sector in Singapore.
“We have asked them to come here and be a partner in food production so that we can meet their standards. Once we have achieved this, I think we can capture the world market. This is Sarawak’s strategy in terms of agriculture.”
Abang Johari thanked Muhyiddin for the National Digital Infrastructure Plan as it would facilitate the state’s digital infrastructure.
“Sarawak has its Digital Blueprint 2018-2022 that will upgrade the state’s digital infrastructure through towers and new technology. Our Sarawak Digital Economic Corporation is exploring new technology to facilitate communication.
“In order to elevate Sarawak leading to 2030, the state’s infrastructure must be world class because only then foreign investors would want to come in.”
Abang Johari said Sarawak was also going for hydrogen economy.
“We have a lot of lakes and hydro dams so we can convert our water through electrolysis to create hydrogen. Sarawak has been experimenting with this and we have three buses as well as two cars that use hydrogen.
“We are also coming up with a three-in-one station consisting of fossil fuel, electricity and hydrogen through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad. I believe it is the first in the region.
“Energy could be a problem in the future so this is why we are producing renewable energy.”
He added that the completion of the Baleh hydro dam would see Sarawak supplying electricity to neighbouring Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia.
