KUALA LUMPUR: Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Tun Openg, has outlined a bold vision for Sarawak’s transformation into a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy, built on unity, education, sustainability and cutting-edge technology.
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s future lies in empowering its people, from university youth to engineers and innovators shaping the state’s new industries.
“Our young Sarawakians who are still studying today will one day lead our state forward. Their knowledge and experience will become the foundation for Sarawak’s progress and Malaysia’s advancement,” he said in his speech at the Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak 2025 Dinner Reception at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), on Saturday night.
Abang Johari reaffirmed his government’s commitment to human capital development, announcing that free tertiary education will be implemented in all state-owned institutions starting in 2026, while the RM1,200 annual student allowance for Sarawakian students across Malaysia will continue next year.
These initiatives, he said, reflect Sarawak’s long-term investment in talent and equality of opportunity.
“We must equip our young people with both skills and vision. Education remains our most powerful tool for building a prosperous Sarawak,” he said.
Additionally, he said that the Sarawak Microelectronics Design (SMD), a state-linked company, has successfully developed the world’s first AI-powered chip, the Ketek AI Chip, through a research partnership with the CSA Catapult Innovation Centre in Cardiff, United Kingdom.
The breakthrough represents Sarawak’s entry into the global semiconductor industry.
“We must collaborate with those who are already leaders in high technology so that we can learn, exchange expertise, and grow together,” Abang Johari said.
The Ketek AI Chip, he said, uses gallium nitride instead of traditional silicon, the first in the world, allowing for greater heat resistance and high-capacity data storage.
The innovation will soon be registered as Sarawak’s own intellectual property, marking the state’s first step into global tech ownership.
“This proves that Sarawakians are capable of world-class innovation. When given responsibility and opportunity, our people can create solutions that put Sarawak on the world map,” he said.
Furthermore, Abang Johari also reaffirmed Sarawak’s leadership in clean energy, setting a target to produce 10,000 megawatts of electricity by 2030, with 70 per cent from renewable sources and 30 per cent from low-carbon gas.
According to him, the Bakun Dam’s power generation capacity has been increased from 2,200 to 2,500 megawatts through local innovation, while the Batang Ai solar hybrid project will expand from 50 megawatts to 170 megawatts next year, highlighting the ingenuity of Sarawakian engineers.
“This is the brilliance of our Sarawakian engineers: creative, dedicated and forward-looking. Energy is the heartbeat of the new economy, and Sarawak is ready to power the region,” he said.
The Premier also highlighted Sarawak’s role as a regional leader in environmental governance, being the first in the region to legislate laws on climate change and carbon trading.
Sarawak, he said, now manages carbon sinks and collaborates with the federal government to balance national carbon emissions.
“We are building an economy that values sustainability, where growth and environmental care go hand in hand,” he stressed.
Abang Johari announced that Sarawak’s growing revenue is being reinvested directly into development projects that benefit the people, from the construction of the Miri-Marudi-Long Lama-Mulu-Limbang-Lawas highway to the One Water Grid project worth over RM1 billion, which will modernise rural water systems.
He also unveiled plans for a new Sarawak Complex in Kuala Lumpur, featuring hostels and facilities for students and Sarawakian associations.
“When state income increases, we return it to the people. That is the Sarawak way; growth with responsibility,” he said.
With the theme ‘Unity in Diversity: The Foundation of Prosperity’, Abang Johari emphasised that Sarawak’s stability and success are rooted in mutual respect among its diverse communities, echoing this year’s theme.
“Sarawak remains peaceful and harmonious despite our differences. We grow together, and that unity is our greatest strength,” he said.
