Abd Karim: Sarawak flagpole inspired Selangor’s new tallest landmark, RM30mln cost includes area’s other components

KUCHING (March 12): Sarawakians should view the 99.8-metre flagpole at Dataran Ibu Pertiwi as an inspiration for other states to follow, said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts said the flagpole attracted much attention and admiration, including from Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah during his visit to the 2024 Rainforest World Music Festival.

“After the Sultan of Selangor came down to Sarawak for the Rainforest World Music Festival, he was so fascinated with the flagpole. Right after that, he called the Cabinet, the Selangor Exco. ‘I want something exactly like Sarawak, and much higher.’ I know because the Exco already told me.

“I am very happy that after Sarawak did that, it has become a landmark to the extent that other states look at it and say, ‘Wow, we should have one like that’,” Abdul Karim told a press conference after the soft launch of the Borneo Global MediTourism Congress and Expo 2026 here.

He was responding to criticism of the RM30 million price tag for Sarawak’s project in comparison to the RM8.5 million required for the new 120-metre flagpole in Selangor.

“Sometimes you cannot compare. Likewise, if we compare Mercedes, BMW, and Proton cars, what is the price? They will still drive you to the same destination, but the cost is different. You cannot look at it that way. Netizens who make these comparisons have been unfair,” he lamented.

Abdul Karim pointed out that the Sarawak flagpole is part of a broader development rather than just a standalone structure.

“If we look at Sarawak, our flagpole is not just a flagpole. It is a whole complex, with the water cascading complex. I would not want to say Selangor is not that good,” he said, but noted that the Selangor flagpole does not include similar surrounding facilities.

He also clarified that the project was funded not by the Sarawak government but by the state’s petroleum company Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros).

“If we look at Sarawak, the state government is not the one that bears the cost. It’s been borne by our petroleum company, Petros. But still, the cost would have to be looked into because the money is also from Sarawak.

“But as it is, the cost of RM30 million involved many different components,” he added.