Great leaders do not waste time answering every critic. They answer with results.– Anon
THERE is an old saying that success has many admirers but even more critics. Nothing illustrates that truth better than Sarawak today, where remarkable progress under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has attracted not only admiration from many quarters but also envy from those who simply cannot accept that a once-overlooked state is now setting the pace for the nation.
Envy, after all, is rarely directed at failure.
Nobody becomes jealous of stagnation or mediocrity.
People become uncomfortable only when someone begins achieving what they themselves never imagined possible, and Sarawak’s transformation over the past decade fits that description perfectly.
The Premier recently observed that some quarters are becoming envious because Sarawak is moving too far ahead.
His remarks were not made out of arrogance but were simply an honest acknowledgement of reality, one that many Sarawakians themselves have quietly recognised over the last several years.
The evidence is impossible to ignore.
Sarawak today owns its own television station, has positioned itself as Malaysia’s renewable energy powerhouse, is pioneering the carbon economy, is aggressively embracing digital transformation, is investing in artificial intelligence, and has reclaimed strategic assets that were once administered elsewhere.
These are not election slogans printed on colourful banners or promises repeated every five years.
They are policies that have been implemented, projects that are already operating and investments that are reshaping the state’s economic landscape for decades to come.
Perhaps that is precisely why some critics are feeling increasingly uneasy.
They are witnessing a state that has refused to wait for permission to dream bigger and has instead decided to write its own development story.
Sarawak’s rise did not happen by accident, nor was it handed over on a silver platter.
It is the product of careful planning, prudent financial management, political stability and, above all, leadership that consistently looks beyond tomorrow’s headlines towards the next generation.
That is where Abang Johari differs from many politicians elsewhere.
While some specialise in endless speeches, political theatrics and social media sound bites, he has built a reputation as a leader who quietly delivers before talking about his achievements.
Malaysia has become familiar with a political culture often described as NATO (No Action, Talk Only).
Grand announcements are made, committees are established, studies are commissioned and years later the rakyat are still waiting for the cows to come home for tangible results.
Sarawak has largely chosen another path.
Under GPS and Abang Johari, the emphasis has been on implementation rather than endless explanation, and the difference is becoming increasingly obvious.
When he spoke about renewable energy years ago, some dismissed it as wishful thinking.
Today, Sarawak has become one of Southeast Asia’s leading producers of clean hydropower while simultaneously positioning itself in hydrogen technology, carbon capture, carbon trading and green industries.
When he spoke about the digital economy, sceptics questioned whether Sarawak was moving too aggressively.
Today, digital payment systems, artificial intelligence initiatives, smart infrastructure and data-driven governance have become integral parts of the state’s development strategy.
When he insisted that Sarawak should control more of its own strategic assets, critics predicted confrontation and failure.
Instead, Sarawak successfully secured greater control over assets such as Bintulu Port. Perhaps the boldest decision of all is the introduction of free tertiary education for eligible Sarawakian students beginning next year.
In a country where higher education continues to place considerable financial pressure on many families, Sarawak has chosen to treat education not merely as expenditure but as the state’s greatest long-term investment.
That decision alone demonstrates the difference between leaders who think only until the next election and leaders who think about the next generation.
Abang Johari understands that the most valuable natural resource in Sarawak is no longer oil, gas, timber or minerals, it is the intelligence and talent of young Sarawakians.
His vision extends far beyond conventional economic statistics.
While Sarawak has already been recognised by the World Bank as a high-income economy since 2022 and ranks among Malaysia’s strongest contributors to national GDP, the Premier has repeatedly said that this achievement alone does not satisfy him.
That statement deserves serious attention because it reveals the philosophy behind his administration.
GDP may impress economists, but it means little if ordinary families do not experience rising incomes, better jobs and improved living standards.
That is why his focus has shifted towards equipping young Sarawakians with expertise in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence, climate science, data analytics and other emerging industries.
These are precisely the sectors that will determine global competitiveness over the next several decades.
Many of the initiatives that critics once labelled unrealistic are now everyday reality.
Hydrogen buses are operating, carbon trading has become an accepted economic strategy, digital governance is expanding rapidly and renewable energy has become one of Sarawak’s defining strengths.
Those who laughed yesterday are now struggling to catch up today.
Meanwhile, development has never been confined only to Kuching or other major urban centres.
Massive investments in rural roads, bridges, water supply, electricity, telecommunications and digital connectivity are gradually reducing the long-standing development gap between urban and rural Sarawak.
That is why critics who attempt to reduce Sarawak’s achievements to mere political propaganda fail to convince many people.
Roads can be driven on, bridges can be crossed, schools can be attended, hospitals can be visited and digital services can be accessed.
These are measurable realities, not political imagination.
Naturally, success attracts resistance.
There will always be those who become uncomfortable whenever Sarawak demonstrates that it can govern efficiently, manage its finances prudently and pursue bold policies without waiting for others to take the lead.
Some may even attempt to portray Sarawak’s growing confidence as arrogance.
In reality, there is a vast difference between arrogance and self-belief. Sarawak is not progressing at the expense of other states.
Its achievements contribute to Malaysia’s overall economic strength, energy security and international competitiveness.
When Sarawak succeeds, Malaysia also benefits. Instead of questioning why Sarawak is moving ahead, perhaps the more useful question is why others have not matched the same pace.
Healthy competition should inspire improvement, not resentment.
Envy has never built a single road, generated a single megawatt of electricity, educated a single student or created a single high-income job.
Vision, discipline and consistent execution do. Looking ahead to 2030, I am prepared to make the same bold prediction that many would hesitate to voice.
If the present momentum continues and the current trajectory is maintained, Sarawak stands every chance of achieving fully developed status by the end of the decade.
That confidence is not built upon blind optimism but upon observable progress.
Few leaders have transformed ambitious concepts into functioning realities as consistently as Abang Johari has done during the past decade.
The journey, of course, is far from complete.
Household incomes must continue rising, quality employment must expand further, rural development must remain a priority and every community must share in Sarawak’s prosperity.
Yet the direction is unmistakably clear.
Sarawak is no longer merely participating in Malaysia’s development story; it is increasingly helping to define it.
Those consumed by envy may continue criticising from the sidelines.
They are perfectly entitled to do so in a democratic society. Sarawakians, however, should remain focused on something far more important.
While others spend their energy complaining about Sarawak’s rise, the state should continue doing what it has done best under Abang Johari, which is planning carefully, working relentlessly and proving that genuine leadership is measured not by promises made but by promises fulfilled.
After all, history has a simple way of judging leaders. It remembers those who built, not those who begrudged those who did.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at rajlira@gmail.com.
