KUCHING: Sarawak will press ahead with the development of Tanjung Embang and its artificial intelligence (AI) and hydrogen initiatives despite calls to abandon them.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said some quarters had urged him to halt the projects, claiming they would be a waste of money.
“I will not withdraw from that. PBB won’t withdraw. We will place Sarawak as a hub in ASEAN and in the region, in fact, to the world,” he said.
Abang Johari who is caretaker Premier said this in his address during the PBB Southern Zone Special Convention 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here Sunday (Nov 15).
He said the objections included calls to stop Tanjung Embang’s development and the state’s AI initiatives, as well as plans to use hydrogen in Kuching despite its declining cost.
He said Sarawak must continue developing its capabilities in new technologies to create employment opportunities and strengthen its position in the changing global economy.
“Some people have asked me to stop the development of Tanjung Embang, saying, ‘You are going to waste money.’
“Sarawak is not a consumer of technology. We are a creator of technology,” he said.
Elaborating on Tanjung Embang, Abang Johari said a new port was needed to accommodate larger vessels and support growing cargo volumes, with the proposed location about eight kilometres offshore in deeper waters.
He said the Muara Tebas channel was becoming increasingly shallow due to sediment deposits, while the development would be supported by road and bridge connections linking Kuching through Tanjung Bako and Asajaya to Tanjung Embang.
Addressing concerns about the Sejingkat Bridge affecting ship movements, Abang Johari said the state was developing a new port rather than continuing to depend on the existing facilities at Pending.
He said Tanjung Embang would also support low-carbon gas development, drawing on resources in the waters off Lundu near Natuna.
He also said Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (PETROS) had been tasked with exploring these resources, including sour gas that could be treated using available technology, alongside carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).
“The gas could support petrochemical industries, with Tanjung Embang also serving as a storage location.
“The planned AI campus at Tanjung Embang would create employment opportunities for young Sarawakian graduates,” he said.
