KUCHING: Sarawak’s development should not be viewed as a choice between economic growth and conservation, with the state needing to find ways to achieve both.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak must continue creating jobs, developing industries, building infrastructure, improving connectivity and raising incomes while safeguarding the natural systems on which its future prosperity depends.
“The challenge before us therefore is not whether we should choose between development and conservation. The challenge is how we achieve both,” he said.
His speech was read out by Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh at the Women in Environment 2026 Symposium at Grand Margherita Hotel here on Tuesday (Aug 18).
Abang Johari said Sarawak was blessed with vast forests, rich biodiversity, significant water resources, extensive river systems and a long coastline.
He said these resources were not merely natural assets but formed part of Sarawak’s identity, economy and inheritance that must be safeguarded for future generations.
At the same time, he said environmental challenges were no longer distant or theoretical, with climate change already affecting how people live, cities are planned, natural resources are managed, food and energy are produced and preparations are made for the future.
Among the challenges were increasingly unpredictable weather, more intense rainfall and flooding, prolonged periods of heat and pressures on biodiversity, forests, rivers, coastlines and marine ecosystems.
“The environment is not a separate issue from development. The environment is part of development. And therefore, sustainability must be part of every important decision that we make,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak believed sustainability could and should become a driver of future economic growth.
He said the transition towards cleaner energy, renewable resources and lower-carbon industries could create new investment opportunities, develop new technologies and generate new jobs.
“Sarawak’s own journey into renewable energy, hydrogen, green industries and greater value-added economic activities demonstrates our willingness to explore new pathways for development,” he said.
At the same time, Abang Johari said Sarawak had an opportunity to demonstrate that a resource-rich state could continue to develop while becoming more sustainable.
“We can build industries while protecting nature. We can embrace new technologies while respecting traditional knowledge.
“We can create economic opportunities while ensuring that communities are not left behind. And we can empower both women and men to become leaders of that transformation,” he said.
However, Abang Johari stressed that this would not happen automatically, but would require deliberate choices, investment, collaboration and, above all, leadership.
He also stressed the need for cooperation among the government, industry, non-governmental organisations, scientists and communities in addressing sustainability challenges.
