SIBU: Sarawak will continue charting its own economic model as it pursues its ambition to become the “Bavaria of Malaysia” despite international recognition of the state’s economic progress.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Nobel Prize laureate, Professor Joseph Stiglitz, had told him that Sarawak had the potential to become one of the leading future economies in Southeast Asia.
“We invited Joseph Stiglitz, the world renowned economist and Nobel Prize laureate, to Sarawak. He met with me to discuss economic management. He said that Sarawak has the potential to become one of the leading future economies in Southeast Asia.
“That is what he said. But we must also have our own model in implementing our economic policies,” he said when officiating the ‘Sarawakku Sayang (SKS)’ Programme here today.
Abang Johari said infrastructure development remained central to the state’s long term economic strategy.
“Today, we are building infrastructure such as roads, bridges, electricity supply and water supply because we want to increase our GDP,” he said.
He said the World Bank had recognised Sarawak as a high income economy ahead of the state’s 2030 target.
“From 2022 until 2025, we have remained among the five largest economies in Malaysia. If we continue working hard, I believe that by 2028, we can overtake those ahead of us,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with Germany, Abang Johari said Sarawak aspired to emulate Bavaria, whose strong economy has contributed significantly to the country’s success.
“There is a federal country like ours called Germany. One of its states is Bavaria. Germany is strengthened because Bavaria has a strong economy. Likewise, I want Sarawak to become the Bavaria of Malaysia,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s development plans must be implemented carefully to ensure continued economic growth.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this, at the macro level, is what we have done,” he said before outlining development initiatives across the state, including Lawas as the catalyst for northern Sarawak’s development, improved connectivity with Sabah and Brunei, the continued development of Miri and its two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and road projects in Baram costing more than RM3 billion.
He said Sarawak would continue building on its strengths while pursuing sustainable economic growth through its own economic model.
