CHIEF Minister Abang Johari Openg today shared his vision of Sarawak as “a thriving society driven by data and innovation, where everyone enjoys economic prosperity, social exclusivity and a sustainable environment.

In addressing the inaugural meeting of the Sarawak economic action council in Kuching, he told the economic experts he appointed to the council that his post-Covid-19 pandemic vision for 2030 is “about our people and fulfilling their needs” in an environment where business is no longer “as usual”.

Economic prosperity, social exclusivity and a sustainable environment, the chief minister said, are the three pillars of the vision.

On the road to economic prosperity, the high income and advanced state he envisioned, Abang Johari said the state’s economy needs to chalk annual growth of 8%.

He said the size of the economy has to double from RM133 billion in 2018 to RM282 billion.

The engines of growth, he said, are commercial agriculture, mining, forestry, manufacturing, services and tourism.

“We will accelerate our efforts in precision agriculture and modern mining using 4IR (fourth industrial revolution) technologies.

“This will provide the feedstock to develop high value products and services,” he told the council made up of some of the country’s most eminent financiers and economists.

The council members are like Bursa Malaysia chairman Abdul Wahid Omar; former minister and now Pemandu Associates CEO Idris Jalal; economist Fatimah Kari of Universiti Malaya; and economic analyst and Suhakam commissioner Madeline Berma.
 
Abang Johari said the adoption of technology and innovation in a vast state with a small population, is critical as the state needs to uplift its current productivity levels as the state had targetted its export volume three-fold.

The objectives, he pointed out, would make the state less reliant on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export, if the state moves up the value chain to produce high value added petrochemical or finished goods; turn the state’s current food trade deficit of RM3 billion to a net surplus by exporting “high value food products instead of primary agricultural produce”.

It would also help spur the growth of the manufacturing sector to grow at 6% or more.

“Our focus is not only on growing GDP, but also how the growth is translated to every Sarawakian.

 “We want to significantly increase the average household income from the current RM5,000 to RM16,000 per month.

“(We) want our projects or initiatives to be rakyat-centric. The distribution of wealth to the rakyat must be equitable.

“Income gap will be reduced with an improved Gini coefficient,” the chief minister said.

The Gini coefficient is the standard measure for economic equality.

Abang Johari said the low-income household percentage in Sarawak, which is currently at 53%, has to be addressed holistically.

He set the reduction target at below 40% in 10 years.

“For every Sarawakian, access to social services will need to be improved. We also must not forget the vulnerable segments of our society.

“Everyone, including our special needs community, will be taken care of.”

On the third pillar – environmental sustainability – Abang Johari said as “Sarawak is our home, we must keep it clean and healthy for current and future generations”.

Key to the sustainability programme is the state’s reforestation efforts.

He said the state government will not only enhance the regulatory framework on the state’s forests, he will “make sure they are complied with”.

As such, agricultural and mining activities will be monitored and certified.

“We want to be recognised by the world for sustainability and protection of our biodiversity.” – June 25, 2020.