SIBU: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has praised Rimbunan Hijau (RH) Group for its resilience, innovation, and enduring contribution to Sarawak’s economy as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Describing RH’s five-decade journey as remarkable, Abang Johari said the group weathered numerous challenges yet continued to grow and evolve.
“The journey was not easy. But with strong spirit and determination, RH not only survived – it thrived,” he said in his speech at the RH Group Golden Jubilee celebration dinner at the Tun Taib Mahmud Chancellor Hall, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) last night (May 13).
Reflecting on Sarawak’s economic landscape in the 1970s, he recalled how the state relied heavily on agricultural exports like pepper and palm products, which yielded limited returns.
In response, he said Sarawak’s leaders turned to new revenue streams and collaborated with international organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).
“These partnerships laid the groundwork for a structured and sustainable timber industry,” he said.
Abang Johari said that RH was among the first companies to embrace this opportunity in the late 1970s.
Under the leadership of Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King and his family, the group expanded from timber extraction into downstream industries, including plywood manufacturing and exports.
Recalling his tenure as Minister of Industrial Development in 1987, he said he witnessed RH’s rapid transformation and commended the Tiong family for their vision and drive.
He also highlighted the company’s evolution into a diversified global player with operations spanning Asia, the Middle East, and Russia.
“RH has grown into a global entity with its roots firmly planted in Sarawak, always green in this field,” he said.
Turning to the future, Abang Johari underscored the importance of adopting climate-friendly economic practices, noting the growing global emphasis on carbon reduction and sustainability.
“This is the ‘new green’, and I am confident RH is capable of adapting to this new era — because Rimbunan will always be ‘Hijau’,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the state’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which is centred on economic prosperity, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability, he said Sarawakians have embraced this vision.
“With RH’s legacy of adaptability, I believe Sarawak will continue to stay ‘hijau, hijau, hijau’ — green for the world economy,” he added.
