Political stability crucial to Sarawak’s economic growth
Sarawak has been ruled for decades by the Barisan Nasional party, which recently won a fresh mandate during state elections. The government believes political stability is an important factor in ensuring continued prosperity.
The state of Sarawak, which dominates the northwest coast of Borneo Island, has established itself as an important member of the Malaysian Federation. The famous “Land of the Hornbills” is laden with natural resources and rainforests that drive a thriving economy built on strong fundamentals and a stable government.
Political stability allows the Kuching government to pursue economic and social policies that not only benefits domestic interests but also lures foreign investors to make the most of Sarawak’s rich natural resources and skilled local talent.
The victory by ruling party Barisan Nasional at the recent state elections has galvanised the regional government, which has been bolstered by the people’s mandate to forge ahead with ambitious economic plans.
Boosted by the federal government’s National Key Result Areas programme, Sarawak has secured an additional RM5.7 billion to strengthen infrastructure while its flagship SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) effort is the platform on which Sarawak hopes to become a high-income economy in line with the 10th Malaysia Plan to achieve developed nation status by 2020.
Sarawak Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, in a recent speech, acknowledged the importance of maintaining political stability in order to foster greater economic and social prosperity.
He said the state’s economic progress “can only be carried out by a leadership that has the experience and continuity in the administration.
“Sarawak will not have the capability to provide efficient services to the people and move further ahead without political stability,” he added.
BN’s triumph is of significant interest to local and overseas investors, who largely welcomed the two-thirds majority victory because of the continuity a stable government will provide for large-scale projects that have already been launched.
The coalition has been governing Sarawak since 1973. Prior to that year, it was known as Perikatan, which is the former incarnation of a smaller ruling alliance of parties.
The current government comprises 13 parties that represent the entire racial, cultural, geographical and religious spectrum of Malaysian society and includes four Sarawak-based organisations.
These parties are: the United Bumiputera Heritage Party, the Sarawak United People’s Party, the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party and the Sarawak People’s Party.
BN has been wooing investors from around the world and the lure of political stability and continuity in regions such as Sarawak can act as a magnet for foreign money to be ploughed into the state.
Sarawak has a vibrant workforce that is bursting to unleash its talents, both managerial and manual, and is keen for big businesses to come into the state with mega projects. Barisan Nasional’s victory could well be the green light for overseas corporations to start making their mark in northwest Borneo.
“Unity and political stability are Sarawak’s greatest assets for attracting foreign investors to come in with their bulky investments,” said Pehin Sri Taib.
“Besides these values, discipline among the younger generations is also important for attracting investors.”
Pehin Sri Taib is the fourth and longest-serving chief minister of Sarawak. He assumed the post in 1981 and in the past 30 years he has overseen steady and progressive developments in the state’s political and economic landscape.
Having endured years of success and inevitable challenges to his leadership and reputation, Pehin Sri Taib played an influential part in BN’s victory in the state elections.
At 75 years old, he is also the second longest serving parliamentarian in the national government, though he said recently that he would hand over the Sarawak reigns to a younger leader in the next few years.
Under his watch, Sarawak’s economy has grown dramatically, with Gross Domestic Product rising from RM6.5 billion in 1981 to RM74 billion in 2009.
Hard-core poverty has been eased and almost the entire population of Sarawak now has access to fresh water, compared to 32 per cent 30 years ago.
In its quest to achieve high-income status by 2020, Pehin Sri Taib is upgrading the education system to ensure Sarawak continues to produce talented and skilled personnel.
Sarawak has indeed come a long way politically and, with continued stability at government level, the state is ready to meet and overcome all economic and social challenges.
Sarawak has been ruled for decades by the Barisan Nasional party, which recently won a fresh mandate during state elections. The government believes political stability is an important factor in ensuring continued prosperity. The state of Sarawak, which dominates the northwest coast of Borneo Island, has established itself as an important member of the Malaysian Federation. The famous “Land of the Hornbills” is laden with natural resources and rainforests that drive a thriving economy built on strong fundamentals and a stable government. Political stability allows the Kuching government to pursue economic and social policies that not only benefits domestic interests...
Sarawak has been ruled for decades by the Barisan Nasional party, which recently won a fresh mandate during state elections. The government believes political stability is an important factor in ensuring continued prosperity.
The state of Sarawak, which dominates the northwest coast of Borneo Island, has established itself as an important member of the Malaysian Federation. The famous “Land of the Hornbills” is laden with natural resources and rainforests that drive a thriving economy built on strong fundamentals and a stable government.
Political stability allows the Kuching government to pursue economic and social policies that not only benefits domestic interests but also lures foreign investors to make the most of Sarawak’s rich natural resources and skilled local talent.
The victory by ruling party Barisan Nasional at the recent state elections has galvanised the regional government, which has been bolstered by the people’s mandate to forge ahead with ambitious economic plans.
Boosted by the federal government’s National Key Result Areas programme, Sarawak has secured an additional RM5.7 billion to strengthen infrastructure while its flagship SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) effort is the platform on which Sarawak hopes to become a high-income economy in line with the 10th Malaysia Plan to achieve developed nation status by 2020.
Sarawak Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, in a recent speech, acknowledged the importance of maintaining political stability in order to foster greater economic and social prosperity.
He said the state’s economic progress “can only be carried out by a leadership that has the experience and continuity in the administration.
“Sarawak will not have the capability to provide efficient services to the people and move further ahead without political stability,” he added.
BN’s triumph is of significant interest to local and overseas investors, who largely welcomed the two-thirds majority victory because of the continuity a stable government will provide for large-scale projects that have already been launched.
The coalition has been governing Sarawak since 1973. Prior to that year, it was known as Perikatan, which is the former incarnation of a smaller ruling alliance of parties.
The current government comprises 13 parties that represent the entire racial, cultural, geographical and religious spectrum of Malaysian society and includes four Sarawak-based organisations.
These parties are: the United Bumiputera Heritage Party, the Sarawak United People’s Party, the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party and the Sarawak People’s Party.
BN has been wooing investors from around the world and the lure of political stability and continuity in regions such as Sarawak can act as a magnet for foreign money to be ploughed into the state.
Sarawak has a vibrant workforce that is bursting to unleash its talents, both managerial and manual, and is keen for big businesses to come into the state with mega projects. Barisan Nasional’s victory could well be the green light for overseas corporations to start making their mark in northwest Borneo.
“Unity and political stability are Sarawak’s greatest assets for attracting foreign investors to come in with their bulky investments,” said Pehin Sri Taib.
“Besides these values, discipline among the younger generations is also important for attracting investors.”
Pehin Sri Taib is the fourth and longest-serving chief minister of Sarawak. He assumed the post in 1981 and in the past 30 years he has overseen steady and progressive developments in the state’s political and economic landscape.
Having endured years of success and inevitable challenges to his leadership and reputation, Pehin Sri Taib played an influential part in BN’s victory in the state elections.
At 75 years old, he is also the second longest serving parliamentarian in the national government, though he said recently that he would hand over the Sarawak reigns to a younger leader in the next few years.
Under his watch, Sarawak’s economy has grown dramatically, with Gross Domestic Product rising from RM6.5 billion in 1981 to RM74 billion in 2009.
Hard-core poverty has been eased and almost the entire population of Sarawak now has access to fresh water, compared to 32 per cent 30 years ago.
In its quest to achieve high-income status by 2020, Pehin Sri Taib is upgrading the education system to ensure Sarawak continues to produce talented and skilled personnel.
Sarawak has indeed come a long way politically and, with continued stability at government level, the state is ready to meet and overcome all economic and social challenges.
