BY NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS & FASIHA KHUSHIRI
KUCHING: Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has reaffirmed that several key bills passed at the ongoing Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting are intended to serve the broader public interest and are not tailored to benefit any particular political party.
Congratulating DUN members on the passage of the bills, the Premier said these legislative measures are crucial for Sarawak’s economic advancement, environmental research, and land administration reforms.
The six bills passed are the Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill, 2025, Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill, 2025, Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Land Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Local Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and Infrastructure Development Trust Fund (Dissolution) Bill, 2025.
Among the bills, Abang Johari highlighted the Land Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025 as particularly impactful.
The amendment allows for the registration of land endowed (wakaf) or voluntarily contributed by landowners for public benefit, with the emphasis on digital documentation and administrative transparency.
“This is not necessarily tied to religion. It is an administrative mechanism that allows such land to be formally registered,” he said.
“The amendment empowers us to manage land using digital technologies, especially for agencies like the Land and Survey Department and consultants handling these matters, including land endowed for charitable or public interest purposes,” he said.
The Premier made these remarks during the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers Night held at the DUN complex on Tuesday (May 27).
Another key development is the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which opens the door for the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) to translate its research into commercial ventures.
“This amendment is a game changer,” Abang Johari said, citing ongoing research into algae as a promising example.
“In the past, SBC could not legally participate in commercialisation. Now, with this law, the centre can convert research outcomes into equity-holding business ventures.”
He stressed that this legal reform enables Sarawak to maximise the value of its biodiversity research, positioning SBC as both a scientific and economic asset.
