Education key to transforming Sarawak’s interior, says Abang Johari

MIRI (March 29): Education is the true engine of transformation for Sarawak’s interior communities, while roads, bridges and technology serve only as enablers of progress, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Speaking at the SMK Long Lama 60th Diamond Jubilee anniversary celebration here on Saturday night, he stressed that knowledge, education and mindset ultimately determine whether development efforts succeed.

While the government continues to invest heavily in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, renewable energy systems, universities — including bringing in Fudan University from China — as well as artificial intelligence (AI), Abang Johari said these alone would not transform communities without a strong educational foundation.

“Roads, as economists say, are enablers. They give you access. But through that access and the knowledge you gain — for example from SMK Long Lama — you must decide how to develop your kampung, your longhouses and your surrounding areas into sustainable economic entities. No one can teach you that except yourself,” he said.

Abang Johari cited the completion of the Marudi Bridge and the construction of the 142-kilometre Miri–Marudi, Marudi–Mulu (Kuala Melinau), and Long Panai–Long Lama (MMMLL) road project as key initiatives that will significantly reduce travel time and integrate Long Lama into Miri’s broader development corridor.

He said that upon completion of the RM3.8 billion project, Long Lama would no longer be considered remote.

“It will be part of the overall development of Miri and the state,” he said, noting that while improved access would open up opportunities, communities must be prepared to seize them.

Using an analogy popularised by Alibaba founder Jack Ma — that if a monkey were given bananas and money, it would choose bananas — Abang Johari said access to resources without knowledge would not lead to progress, emphasising that understanding and skills are essential to making meaningful use of development opportunities.

Looking ahead, he said Sarawak’s future economy would be driven by new sectors such as AI, renewable energy, aerospace technology and biotechnology — all of which require a highly educated and skilled workforce.

He noted that AI, once unheard of a decade ago, has now become a major driver of value creation through data processing, while renewable energy initiatives such as solar power have already been deployed in rural areas to reduce reliance on diesel.

“When I took over as Premier, I said we must move towards renewable energy, starting with solar. That was why we established the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares) and began using solar panels in rural villages and longhouses.

“Today, as mentioned by YB Dennis (Datuk Dennis Ngau) , many rural areas already generate electricity from solar panels with battery storage. If we had not started this earlier and continued relying on diesel, we would now be facing serious problems — especially at a time when global conflicts such as between Iran and the United States are driving up fuel prices,” he said.

He added that without Sares, longhouses in Baram — particularly in Telang Usan, where 88 longhouses now depend on the scheme for electricity — would be facing major challenges due to the high cost and limited availability of diesel.

Abang Johari stressed that all of these initiatives began with knowledge.

“If I had not read books on energy before becoming Chief Minister in 2017, I would not have known about solar energy, hydroelectric dams, cascading dams or energy storage,” he said.

He also highlighted Sarawak’s push into research and innovation, including the approval from the Ministry of Higher Education for China’s Fudan University to establish a presence in Miri, focusing on integrating traditional herbal medicine with Western medical science.

“With Sarawak’s rich biodiversity, particularly in areas such as Baram, Belaga and Kapit, there is strong potential to develop new forms of medicine through scientific research and AI-assisted analysis,” he said, adding that this would require more scientists from various disciplines.

On the SMK Long Lama diamond jubilee celebration, Abang Johari said the occasion marked an important milestone in the history of education, as it commemorated the establishment of a school deep in the interior 60 years ago.

Despite its remote location, he said the school has produced many educated and experienced individuals who have contributed to the development of the state and nation, particularly among the Orang Ulu community.

“I congratulate the teachers who have served in this school over the past 60 years until today. I also congratulate those who have succeeded in their educational journeys, with some achieving notable success, including Datuk Dennis Ngau,” he said.

At the same event, he announced a RM60,000 grant for SMK Long Lama, as well as RM45,000 each for the SMK Long Lama alumni association and the school’s parent-teacher Association (PTA).

Among those present were state Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin; Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat; Chief Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman; Baram MP Datuk Anyi Ngau; Dennis, who is also the patron of SMK Long Lama; Miri Division Resident Galong Luang; and SMK Long Lama Alumni Association chairman Margaret Uding Nawan.