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Fatimah (third right) seen receiving a memento from one of the booth operators at the Hikmah Exchange building today, where the booths are opened in conjunction with Sarawak Urban Forum 1.0. Also seen are Dr Abdul Rahman (third, left), Sharifah Hasidah (fourth, left), Hilmy (fourth right) and others.
KUCHING (Oct 21): Sarawak will align its development with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), introduced in 2015, as a commitment to environmental sustainability, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He stated that while ensuring balance economic growth, Sarawak also aims to adopt a responsible approach to natural resource management while addressing climate change and conserving biodiversity.
“Sarawak’s blueprint aims to tackle key environmental issues by focusing on sustainable practices such as greening initiatives and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.
“Sarawak is also committed to harnessing clean energy sources, particularly hydropower, solar energy, and hydrogen, which are expected to drive the state’s green economy and ensure a more resilient future.
“These efforts align with Sarawak’s broader goal to position itself as a global leader in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards,” he said in his speech at the launch of the Sarawak Urban Forum 1.0 held at the Hikmah Exchange building today.
Abang Johari’s speech was read by Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah today.
Abang Johari expressed Sarawak’s ambition to be a regional leader in combating climate change, inequality, and poverty.
He praised the progress Sarawak has made in sustainable development, noting that the state has adopted innovative, community-driven solutions to address these challenges.
“Sarawak will continue to pioneer green initiatives and catalyse projects that are led by local communities, ensuring no one is left behind,” he said.
In addition to environmental sustainability, he said Sarawak is also focusing on social inclusivity, adding that the Ministry of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing has launched several programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
“Initiatives like the Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS), Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC), and the Bantuan Ibu Bersalin (BIB) are designed to improve living standards and enhance access to essential services across the state.
“These efforts are part of Sarawak’s broader Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which aims to create a more inclusive and equitable society,” he said.
Abang Johari also highlighted the importance of collaboration between stakeholders, government agencies, and the private sector in achieving Sarawak’s sustainable development goals, emphasising the need for integrated, holistic approaches.
The Premier commended the efforts of the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) in empowering communities through various programmes and councils, such as the Child, Youth, and Elderly Councils, to foster greater engagement and social cohesion.
“We need to work as a team; social issues are too complex to tackle in isolation,” he said.
Ababg Johari proudly stated that Sarawak is the first state in Malaysia to organise such a forum, aiming to address critical urban development challenges while setting a precedent for other states to follow.
The Sarawak Urban Forum 1.0, the first of its kind at the state level, builds on the success of last year’s Malaysia Urban Forum and focuses on urbanisation issues specific to Sarawak.
Among those present during the event were Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, who is also minister in charge of DBKU; Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia Raden Sigit Witjaksono, Kuching North Datuk Bandar Hilmy Othman.
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