KUCHING: Sarawak is entering the second and most demanding phase of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, marking a decisive shift from preparation to performance with a sharper focus on execution, delivery and measurable outcomes, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said this phase, anchored by the Sarawak 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), is not a change in direction but a transition from readiness to results that can be clearly seen, measured and experienced by the people.
“While the earlier phase of PCDS 2030 focused on building foundations — restoring fiscal strength, strengthening institutions and establishing policy frameworks — this phase is about converting that readiness into tangible outcomes,” he said when delivering his New Year 2026 Address at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today (Jan 13).
Abang Johari said one of Sarawak’s most significant strategic advantages as it enters the 13MP period is its leadership in the energy sector, which has been deliberately positioned over the past nine years as more than just a revenue source.
“Energy has become the foundation for Sarawak’s long-term economic sovereignty, industrial competitiveness and social stability,” he said.
He noted that Sarawak’s renewable energy strength, particularly in hydropower, has provided the state with reliable, affordable and increasingly low-carbon energy, while continued investment in generation capacity, grid resilience and system reliability has further strengthened investor confidence across sectors.
Through enhanced institutional capability, including the strengthening of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS), Abang Johari said Sarawak has expanded its role across the energy value chain, allowing energy policy to be more closely aligned with development objectives, downstream value creation and long-term public interest.
Under the 13MP, he said Sarawak’s development will be guided by a focused set of strategic priority areas that function as integrated systems cutting across industries, institutions and capabilities, supported by cross-cutting enablers in innovation, sustainability and institutional capacity.
“Energy transition and low-carbon industrialisation will remain our central growth engine, leveraging Sarawak’s renewable energy advantage to anchor downstream industries, data centres and emerging hydrogen-based activities,” he said.
He added that the transition will be underpinned by strong environmental stewardship, including sustainable land and water management, circular economy practices and climate-resilience measures to ensure industrial growth remains environmentally responsible over the long term.
