Premier: Sarawak enters most demanding phase of PCDS 2030, anchored by 13MP

KUCHING (Jan 13): Sarawak is now entering the second and most demanding phase of the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, anchored by the Sarawak 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

In his special address at the ‘Amanat Perdana’ ceremony held in conjunction with his ninth anniversary as the Premier of Sarawak, he said this phase marks a decisive shift from preparation to performance, and from readiness to results.

“It is not a change in direction, but a sharpening of focus on execution, delivery and measurable outcomes.

“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 readiness into tangible results that can be seen, measured and experienced by the people,” he said at the ceremony held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here.

Abang Johari said under the 13MP, Sarawak’s development will be guided by a focused set of strategic priority areas, not as standalone sectors, but as integrated systems that cut across industries, institutions and capabilities.

“These priorities are supported by cross-cutting enablers in innovation, sustainability and institutional capability to ensure that growth is productive, resilient and deliverable.”

He pointed out that energy transition and low-carbon industrialisation will remain the central growth engine, leveraging Sarawak’s renewable energy advantage to anchor downstream industries, data centres and emerging hydrogen-based activities.

“This transition will be underpinned by strong environmental stewardship, including sustainable land and water management, circular economy practices and climate resilience measures, to ensure that industrial growth remains environmentally responsible over the long term,” he said.

He also said that manufacturing and downstream industries will be deepened, with emphasis on higher-value processing, advanced materials and export-oriented production.

“This will move Sarawak further up regional and global value chains, supported by greater adoption of advanced technologies, applied research and industry-led innovation, as well as stronger linkages between firms, research institutions and talent pipelines to accelerate commercialisation and productivity gains.”

In addition, he said food security and modern agriculture will be strengthened through productivity-driven approaches, including technology adoption, precision agriculture, integrated agroparks and stronger farmer–market linkages, while digitalisation and artificial intelligence adoption will be scaled across sectors to raise productivity and improve service delivery, supporting smarter urban management, industrial optimisation and data-driven public services.

“Transport, logistics and gateways will be upgraded as strategic enablers, ensuring that ports, airports, roads and digital infrastructure effectively support industrial clusters, trade flows and regional connectivity.

“In parallel, supporting business services, including logistics, engineering, professional, digital, financial and green services will be strengthened to enhance trade facilitation, supply chain integration and export readiness, positioning Sarawak as a competitive hub for regional production and services,” he said.

He added that human capital development is treated as an economic strategy, with investment in education, skills upgrading and industry-linked training aligned with the needs of future industries to ensure Sarawak’s workforce is prepared for high-value, technology-enabled and innovation-driven activities.

In this regard, Abang Johari said responsibility for delivering Sarawak’s development agenda does not rest with the civil service alone, as the success of the 13MP requires a whole-of-Sarawak effort with state-owned enterprises, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community institutions and Sarawakians each playing their respective roles.

“Government’s role is to provide direction, coordination and accountability by setting clear policies, aligning institutions and ensuring disciplined execution.

“However, lasting progress depends on shared ownership, effective partnerships and collective commitment across society, where government, enterprises, community institutions and the people each play their role in translating policy into outcomes on the ground.”

He said the implementation of the 13MP will be deliberately phased to ensure that ambition is matched with delivery capacity.

“The period from 2026 to 2027 will focus on acceleration, including fast-tracking implementation-ready projects, resolving bottlenecks, mobilising investment and strengthening delivery coordination.

“The period from 2028 to 2030 will focus on consolidation and harvest, scaling successful initiatives, institutionalising reforms and ensuring that economic and social benefits are widely shared,” he said.