SIBU: Sarawak is positioning itself to become Malaysia’s gateway to the green economy and a key driver of the nation’s future competitiveness by investing in clean energy, high-value industries, artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak’s development strategy was not only about advancing the state, but also about strengthening Malaysia’s position in an increasingly competitive global economy.
“Today, when we talk about Sarawak’s development, we are actually talking about the future of Malaysia. The world is undergoing tremendous economic change. Countries that succeed are those that master new technologies, clean energy, artificial intelligence, the digital economy and high-value industries,” he said.
He said this during the Sarawak Day 2026 gathering at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang on Wednesday (July 22) night.
Abang Johari said Sarawak had chosen to be a leader rather than a bystander in the global economic transition.
He said the development strategies that are being implemented are not only for the people of Sarawak, but will also determine how Malaysia competes at the regional and global levels.
“Our aspiration is to build Sarawak as Malaysia’s gateway to the green economy. We want Sarawak to become a clean energy hub, a centre for high-value industries and a major contributor to Malaysia’s economic strength,” he said.
Abang Johari pointed out that a stronger Sarawak would ultimately lead to a stronger Malaysia, describing it as the true spirit of federalism.
“This is the true spirit of federalism. It is not about competing with one another or concentrating development in a single place or region, but about strengthening the nation through the strengths of each region for the prosperity of the country as a whole,” he said.
At the same time, the Premier reiterated his vision of transforming Sarawak into the “Bavaria of Malaysia”, drawing inspiration from the German state’s high-technology industries, world-class universities and dynamic innovation ecosystem.
He stressed that Sarawak’s development agenda was not intended to distance itself from the federation, but to contribute more meaningfully to the nation’s progress.
“We want Sarawak to become a region with a sustainable economy, highly skilled people and strong public and private institutions so that Sarawak’s success becomes Malaysia’s strength. I have always emphasised that Sarawak’s development is not about separating from Malaysia.
“Instead, we want to contribute more to Malaysia. A developed Sarawak will create a more competitive Malaysia,” he said.
Abang Johari also revealed that Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz had expressed confidence that Sarawak has the potential to emerge as one of Southeast Asia’s most important economies of the future.
“His views gave us confidence that the direction we have chosen is the right one. However, I believe we will only achieve that success if we continue to build our own development model based on Sarawak’s strengths and advantages,” he added.
