Abang Johari: High-income status accorded to Sarawak by World Bank shows we are on right track
KOTA SAMARAHAN, July 7 — The World Bank describing Sarawak as a high-income state means that its economic development is on the right track, Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today.
He said it is true that the state’s income in 2022 has increased substantially.
“When we say that our gross national income (GNI) has surpassed the threshold set by the World Bank, that is why they are of the opinion that Sarawak is now a high-income state,” he told reporters after the opening of Masjid Al-Malik at Uni Garden here.
However, the premier stressed that the high-income status is just statistical economic data that gives an indicator that the state’s economy is developing well.
He said that the state government will distribute the income for the development of the state that has been planned through Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
“This will give an ecosystem where the people will get the benefits from the sectors that we have developed, for example, tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture,” he added.
He said what is important is that there must be connectivity, infrastructure, water, and electricity supplies which are now in the process of being implemented.
He said by the year 2025 or 2026 when all these have been completed, people can use their talents to improve their income in accordance with their capability.
The premier said under PCDS 2030, the state government has stressed talent development, basic infrastructure, and the use of technology.
“When we have a strong foundation, hopefully, our income will increase further by the year 2030,” he said.
In a statement released yesterday, the World Bank lead economist Apurva Sanghi, Sarawak qualifies as a high-income state as it has a gross national income (GNI) per capita of more than US$13,205 (RM61,442).
According to figures also shared by Apurva in his tweet, Sarawak now joins the ranks of Penang and federal territories, Labuan and Kuala Lumpur.
