Sarawak must preserve its political stability and unity while accelerating delivery under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to ensure continued progress towards 2030, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He stressed that stability, harmony and prudent governance remain the foundation of Sarawak’s development success, warning that sustained progress and investor confidence cannot be achieved without them.
“In Sarawak, we are guided by the values of ‘Sarawakku Sayang – Jaga Sarawak, Intu Sarawak’, which reflects empathy, mutual respect and care for one another.
“As anak Sarawak, we must take care of Sarawak and protect the unity and harmony that we currently enjoy. Above all, we need to preserve the political stability and social harmony that have long been the foundation of our success,” he said in his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (May 20).
Abang Johari said without stability and harmony, Sarawak would not be able to sustain progress, attract investments or ensure prosperity for its people.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to safeguarding Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), particularly on oil and gas resources, stressing that the state’s position has remained consistent.
“We are only asking for what rightfully belongs to the people of Sarawak,” he said.
At the same time, he said Sarawak will continue to maintain a constructive working relationship with the federal government while seeking adequate allocations to meet urgent development needs, especially in rural infrastructure, water supply, schools, clinics and hospitals.
On development planning, Abang Johari said the 13MP represents a critical execution phase for Sarawak as the state moves closer to its PCDS 2030 targets, with less than four years remaining before 2030.
“This is a phase of execution and delivering results for the people of Sarawak,” he said.
He issued a strong reminder to all implementing agencies and civil servants to eliminate delays in project execution, approvals and service delivery.
“There must be no unnecessary delays in project execution, service delivery, approvals or decision-making. Speed is important and it must come hand in hand with discipline, coordination and accountability,” he said.
The Premier also called for stronger inter-agency coordination and a whole-of-government approach, urging the public service to fully utilise digital systems to improve performance monitoring and evidence-based decision-making.
He further emphasised the importance of prudent financial management and transparency, saying these are essential to maintain investor confidence and ensure public funds are channelled towards high-impact priorities for the rakyat.
