AFTER years of waiting, Sarawak will finally have its own television station.

The free-to-air TV Sarawak could start its technical trial at the end of the year, Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said in his Sarawak Day address in Miri tonight.

He said the Communication and Multimedia Ministry had granted a government-linked company, Sarawak Media Group (SMG), a 10-year licence to operate the station in Kuching.

The chief minister also said the station, apart from providing broadcasting services, will also offer “online publishing and information provisioning services”.

He said the station could be used as a platform for the state’s creative industry players to showcase and monetise their work.

He said the state is aware of the important role of the creative industry in generating revenue for the state’s economy, and called on “all our local creative industry players” to grab the opportunities available once the TV station is fully operational.

SMG was established on April 10, 2018, according to its website.

Meanwhile, on the state’s Covid-19 battered economy, Abang Johari said despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the state is still capable of achieving its aspiration of 6%-8% annual growth towards 2030.

“With a total budget allocation of RM20 billion in these two years, our local economy will be injected with massive funds for public expenditure.

“This, of course, will increase consumption, which will have the effect of propping up the economy.

“Besides this, if we include foreign investments, there will be another RM61 billion injection in the next five to 10 years,” he said.

Abang Johari added he is confident that with these, Sarawak will be in a position to achieve its projected annual growth and fulfil its dream of becoming a developed and high-income state. – July 22, 2020.