KUCHING, 13 JULY: This evening, the Finance Ministry and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government leaders held a virtual engagement session on the National Recovery Plan (PPN). The Sarawak Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement tonight that the one-hour session was convened to improve the efficacy of PPN and was headed by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, who is also the PPN coordinating minister.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and his three deputies, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, led the GPS team in the session. Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Local Government and Housing, and Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil were also present.
“From Sarawak’s perspective, the Sarawak government provided input to strengthen the State’s economy while taking into account the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and (Sarawak’s) contribution to the national economy,” the statement stated.
The immunization program in Sarawak, which is doing well, infrastructure development programs, ICT development programs, manufacturing industry, and foreign investment as the foundation for improving Sarawak’s economy were among the topics discussed.
Agriculture’s potential based on the Internet of Things (IOT) and a sustainable economy were other key concerns, as was security along the long border between Sarawak and Kalimantan, which has a significant impact on Sarawak’s socio-economic situation.
According to the statement, the implementation of PPN phases that must be suited to the situation in Sarawak, which is almost as vast as Peninsular Malaysia, was also discussed./n
