KUCHING: Sarawak is offering itself as a testing ground for engineering solutions developed through international partnerships.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state could work with engineering institutions, universities and industries to develop and test solutions under real-world conditions.
Rather than bringing ready-made answers to Sarawak, he called on international partners to jointly develop solutions suited to actual local conditions.
“We invite you to develop solutions with us, solutions that work under real conditions, improve people’s lives and can be adapted elsewhere. Let us begin with something practical. One challenge, one partnership and one pilot.
“Let us identify a real engineering challenge, bring together institutions, universities and industries from across the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP), and test a solution that can be measured, improved and replicated,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the opening of the 34th FEIAP General Assembly and World Engineering Congress at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Abang Johari said Sarawak has entered a new phase of development, with its focus expanding beyond basic infrastructure towards wider economic transformation.
Under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, he said Sarawak’s development is guided by economic prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability.
“For Sarawak, sustainable development cannot be planned in separate parts. Energy must support industry. Transport must be planned together with land use and digital connectivity.
“Climate action must be supported by reliable data, clear standards and the right financing. And we must prepare our people for the economy we want to build,” he said.
Abang Johari said economic growth must also create opportunities for the people, with development reaching both urban and rural communities while resources are managed responsibly.
He said having resources alone would not guarantee Sarawak’s success.
“What matters is how we use them, how we add value and whether our people have the knowledge and confidence to manage them.
“This is why engineers have always been central to Sarawak’s development and will remain central to our future,” he added.
The state is also moving into areas such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and aerospace.
While these industries differ, Abang Johari said they all depend on strong engineering capability.
He said the FEIAP congress provided an opportunity to learn from member economies and industries, exchange ideas and build partnerships that could turn engineering knowledge into practical solutions for Sarawak and the wider region.
