KOTA SAMARAHAN: Sarawak will establish a laboratory next year as part of preparations to develop its own nano-satellite, or CubeSat, targeted for launch by 2030.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the laboratory would support the development of local expertise in aerospace and space-related fields, including basic astronomy, as Sarawak moves towards developing its own satellite capability.
“We have a roadmap for 2030. Last week, I met with aerospace experts so that by 2030, we will have our own satellite in space.
“This nano-satellite is called CubeSat, and we will establish a laboratory starting next year,” he said in his speech when officiating at the Sarawak Youth Week 2026 celebration here today.
Abang Johari said Sarawak would need engineers equipped with knowledge of space and at least a basic understanding of astronomy to support the initiative.
He said the satellite could provide valuable information about the Earth, including Sarawak’s natural resources, which could subsequently help the state identify ways to increase the value of its resources.
“If we know what we have, we can add value to the resources found on our land in Sarawak,” he said.
He said the initiative reflected Sarawak’s approach of viewing education as an investment in the state’s future, particularly in equipping young people with knowledge and skills relevant to emerging industries.
He also urged young people to be courageous in exploring new areas and using available data to identify opportunities.
“You must be brave enough to navigate uncharted waters. You have to navigate with all the data that you have.
“With information, we can find ways to add value to what we have in our state. That is why data and information are important,” he said.
He also stressed that Sarawak’s economic development must keep pace with the education and capabilities of its young people to ensure more Sarawakians working or studying outside the state could return and contribute to its development.
He cited the development of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system in Samarahan, particularly the route from Rembus to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), as an example of how new economic opportunities could encourage Sarawakians working in Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere to return home.
“Many of our young people working in Kuala Lumpur have returned to Sarawak to manage our ART.
“This means our economy must be strengthened and our young people must be able to find work that matches their education when they return to the state,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s economic and employment opportunities therefore needed to continue expanding alongside advancements in education and technology.
He also shared the state’s experience in exploring new oil and gas resources, citing the discovery of oil and gas potential at Adong Kecil in Baram.
He said when he established Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS), there were concerns that Sarawak’s oil resources were diminishing.
However, he instructed PETROS to explore onshore areas based on geological information indicating possible oil and gas deposits.
The exploration, which began in 2023, subsequently provided evidence of oil and gas resources at Adong Kecil, with PETROS able to extract about 800 barrels of oil.
“This means our young people must be brave and calculate how we can add value to what we have on our land,” he said.
