Premier: Sarawak government aims to increase homeownership in State to 75 pct

Abang Johari speaking at the Sheda Annual Dinner and Excellence Awards 2023 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on Nov 25, 2023. Photo credit: Sarawak Information Department (JaPen)

By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, NOV 26: Under the Post Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, the Sarawak government aims to raise the number of homeowners so that 75 per cent of Sarawakians can own a home.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that he ascertained from the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) that the current economic climate makes it challenging for private developers to build and provide units under various affordable housing development schemes.

As such, he agreed that there is no immediate solution to this, but he is confident that in the long term, Sarawak will be able to improve the median monthly household income of Sarawakians from RM4,544 to RM15,000 by 2030, as envisaged in PCDS 2030.

“We must grow our economy more robustly in the downstream sector so that more people can have the opportunity to earn better incomes,” he said at the Sheda Annual Dinner and Excellence Awards 2023 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching last night (Nov 25).

Abang Johari asserted this could be done by adding value to Sarawak’s resources through research and innovation, particularly in oil and gas, biodiversity, renewable energy, and maritime.

He also expressed optimism that Sarawak is on a clear path towards achieving a developed and high-income economy by 2030.

Abang Johari’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Michael Tiang; Sarawak Financial Secretary Dato Sri Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; Sheda president Augustine Wong; event organising chairman Dato Bobby Ting; and Sheda secretary-general Angie Kueh were also present. — DayakDaily