KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak remains committed to constructive engagement with the Federal Government and with Sabah to ensure policy alignment, coordinated investment and shared learning, so that climate action delivers benefits for Malaysia as a whole.
He stressed that coordinated governance between federal and state governments is vital to strengthen national climate resilience.
“Strong states strengthen the federation. And coordinated governance strengthens national resilience,” he said in his keynote address at the launch of the Subnational Climate Change Institutional Assessment (CCIA) Report here today (March 3).
Abang Johari said one of the clearest messages from the Subnational CCIA is that lasting climate solutions must rest on strong institutions.
“Targets alone are not enough. Ambition without institutional clarity leads to fragmentation,” he said, adding that climate action can succeed only when institutions are equipped to align sectors, coordinate across different levels of government, and match planning with financing.
He emphasised that institutions must operate with clear mandates and firm legal authority. They must monitor progress transparently and be capable of managing fiscal and environmental risks in an increasingly uncertain climate landscape.
Referring to the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963, he noted that Sarawak holds significant authority over land, forestry, marine and natural resources.
“This institutional reality is not a complication — it is a strength, if designed and coordinated properly,” he said.
Abang Johari also highlighted Sarawak’s partnership with the World Bank, describing it as constructive, rigorous and forward-looking.
Beyond climate governance, he said the collaboration covers state-owned enterprise reform, public financial management and results-based budgeting.
“These efforts strengthen transparency, efficiency and fiscal stewardship. Strong economic governance and strong climate governance are mutually reinforcing,” he said, adding that the Subnational CCIA builds naturally on this foundation.
In line with this commitment, the Sarawak Government has established the Sarawak Climate and Energy Diplomacy Unit to lead regional and international engagements on climate, carbon and energy transition, with technical support from the Sarawak Climate Change Centre.
He said the unit represents Sarawak in global climate forums, advises on major projects and agreements, integrates climate and energy considerations into state planning, and consolidates green resources and technologies to enhance sustainable development and economic competitiveness.
Citing carbon pricing as an example of institutional clarity, Abang Johari said Sarawak’s carbon levy framework is being carefully designed in line with international best practice and insights from the World Bank.
He described carbon pricing as a policy instrument that sends clear market signals, shapes investment decisions and accelerates the transition to lower-carbon pathways.
However, he cautioned that it must be supported by clear legal authority, transparent governance, credible monitoring and verification systems, and alignment with national policies.
“This drives home the point that climate action requires coordination across federal, state and local governments. It requires clear mandates, fiscal tools, legislative authority and alignment.
“Our objective is not fragmentation. Our objective is coherence — where innovation at the state level strengthens Malaysia’s overall climate architecture,” he said.
