Premier: Sarawak’s green policy can influence, drive Asian regional economy

Abang Johari signs on the plaque to commemorate the launch of the Chair. – Photo by Sarawak Public Communications Unit

KUCHING (Oct 25): The green economy policy, especially the development of the hydrogen industry, being implemented by the Sarawak government can influence and drive the Asian regional economy, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He was cited in a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report today as saying Sarawak is currently collaborating with Korea in the development of hydrogen energy.

“The Korean economy will depend on Sarawak once hydrogen energy begins to be exported to the country starting in 2027.

“(This shows) we can influence regional economic development,” he said at the launch of the Sheikh Othman Sarawak Waqf Chair at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Chancellery in Bangi, Selangor today.

Abang Johari also welcomed UKM to establish cooperation with Sarawak in exploring hydrogen energy production.

He also shared that Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 is an economic idea aimed at driving Sarawak to become a developed and high-income region in 2030 with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) target of RM280 billion.

He said if the GDP target can be achieved through new sources of income, Sarawak will also contribute to the country’s GDP

“That’s why for this PCDS, it requires new ways for us to manage our economy. So, this depends on economic management and our approach,” he said.

Also present were State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunications Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, chairman of the Sarawak Islamic Council Datu Misnu Taha, chairman of UKM Board of Directors Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamad Abd Razak, UKM vice chancellor Professor Dato’ Gs Ts Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman and other dignitaries.

Meanwhile, the Sheikh Othman Sarawak Waqf Chair was established following the allocation of RM5 million from Sarawak government in 2021.

The Chair is a realisation of a resolution passed at the 8th Nadwah Ulama Nusantara organised in Kuching in 2018 and can be considered as one of the initiatives to explore new research fields that can drive the agenda of Socio-Economic Empowerment.

Born in Kuching in 1863, Sheikh Othman Sarawak or his real name Sheikh Othman Abdul Wahab is a prominent figure in the propagation of Islam in the state.

Educated at Masjidil Haram, Makkah, he stayed on to be among the teachers there. He passed away in 1921 in Makkah.

In addition to the Sheikh Othman Sarawak Waqf Chair at UKM, Sarawak also has Chairs at Universiti Putra Malaysia and at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).