Abang Johari (centre) with GPS leaders at the launch gimmick of the GPS Convention. – Photo by Roystein Emmor

KUCHING (April 19): Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will continue its initiatives to transform the state’s economy, driving Sarawakians to embrace technology as the way forward, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The GPS chairman cited the Harvard Business Review 2025-2037 as stating that Sarawakians must make full use of technology or risk being replaced by it.

“Experts have predicted in ‘Imagining the (Distant) Future of Work, Academy of Management Discoveries, 2024′ that by 2037, people will work alongside robots, with more and more jobs to be entirely replaced by technology.

“Like it or not, this is the trend and what the experts have predicted. We must work toward utilising technology,” he said when delivering his keynote address during the GPS Convention 2026 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here on Sunday.

Abang Johari said experts predicted that technology would require constant reskilling or upskilling of workers in 2025, while job tasks would be partially automated in 2026.

“Drones are automated. GPS must teach our farmers to use automation. By 2029, experts say new technologies will create new types of occupations and industries.

“More and more occupations will be augmented by AI (artificial intelligence), helping people work more efficiently and productively by 2030. AI serves to assist and accelerate your solutions but (is) not the real solution. We can use AI in our industries.

“The experts have also predicted major ecological disasters to occur in 2033. We are going towards that. The time will come when we cannot predict floods that may happen due to climate change,” he said.

As technology advances, individuals or groups who embrace it will see an increase in wealth, which could result in economic inequality by 2035, said the Premier, quoting the Harvard Business Review.

He stressed that GPS must work on addressing such wealth gap before dramatic economic inequality hits.

To face future challenges, he said Sarawakians must continue to rally behind GPS, which has provided social and political stability for the past seven to eight years.

To achieve the goals set in the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030, he said every Sarawakian must continue to play their role in preserving stability.

“Other states (in Malaysia) may be divided but we, Sarawak, must stay united. We have to continue enhancing the quality of Sarawakians who will be the future managers of Sarawak,” he stressed.

He concurred with Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, who earlier mentioned that trust is the foundation to preserve stability in Sarawak.

“Yes, I agree with him that we must have trust, and not be guided by mistrust. GPS has four component parties (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party, PDP and Parti Rakyat Sarawak), and we depend on each other for the better sake of Sarawak,” he added.

Abang Johari pointed out that GPS initiatives are for the sake of Sarawakians, not personal agendas.

Citing the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme as an example, he said GPS has implemented this policy with sincerity for the future of the state.

Given this, he said Sarawak must stay strong, as some quarters jealous of its achievements would want to see it fall.

“Sarawak will be divided if there is no trust. Without trust and belief, we will be divided. However, we are grateful that Sarawak is not divided.

“Why is Sarawak progressive? It is because we work toward one common goal — for a better Sarawak. With money and great ideas, GPS can move Sarawak way forward,” he added.

The Premier hoped that the convention would provide insights into future trends and political and economic perspectives to enable the state to keep advancing.

“We must continue to fight for our state rights within the MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) perimeter,” he said.