Sarawak Is Safe, Peaceful and Prosperous.

KUCHING: Sarawak in the last 33 years had achieved economic progress and prosperity as before 1980s, Sarawak was still under developed and its economy was largely based on agriculture, forestry and mining with the economic then were largely low value added, just to meet the basics needs of the rakyat. 

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Adenan Satem said that the incidence of poverty was still high at approximately 50% and the average monthly income per household was about RM580 with the access to basic and social infrastructures was also limited and these impeded the expansion of economic activities."

"Connectivity and accessibility were the biggest challenges faced by the Government in undertaking development activities considering the big sized of the State and the scattered population, especially in the rural areas and that this situation has made the task of attracting private investment very challenging."

Pointing out that the socio-economic landscape however, started to change with increased development momentum when our Tuan Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Haji  Abdul Taib Mahmud took over the helm of the State leadership as the Chief Minister in 1981, Adenan said that his far sightedness could be seen when he first introduced the Philosophy of Politics of Development to address both the development issues and challenges faced by the State.

"With the people’s interest at heart, his Politics of Development emphasises on the socio-economic equity and changing the mindset of the rakyat so that they could effectively participate in the development process."

Adenan said this in his speech during Birthday Celebration Parade for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud at Padang Merderka near the city here this morning.

"Under his leadership, Sarawak has achieved success by leaps and bounds in all aspects of development, be it physical, economic and social," he said adding that the progress made has benefited the rakyat be it those staying in the urban or rural areas. 

"Undoubtedly, this was the fruits of success of the Politics of Development that has brought about political stability, rapid economic growth, prosperity, social harmony and unity among the various ethnic groups in the State."

"The State Government was indeed pragmatic when several new measures were introduced in 1980s to accelerate economic growth and development. These include the economic diversification policy that has changed the structure of the State economy from primary sector based on commodities to higher value added manufacturing and service sectors," he said adding that many achievement were made including the success of attracting more private investment and creating more new business in the State.

"We Sarawakians should be proud of the fact that our State is the third largest contributor to the Malaysians economy and despite the slowdown in the global economy, our State continued to record positive economic growth at 4.2% in 2013 and is expected to grow at 5.0% in 2014."

"The good performance of our economy is also reflected in the ratings made by both reputableinternational and local rating agencies, such as A3 Stable Outlookby Moody's Investors Services and A- Stable Outlook by Standard & Poor's and undoubtedly, these good ratings had enhanced investors' confidence in doing business."

Adenan said that Sarawak's Real GDP had increased significantly from RM3.5 billion in 1980 to RM75.0 billion in 2013 and over the same period, our GDP Per Capita has increased manifolds from RM4,066 to 41,115. 

"This is well above the National GDP Per Capita of RM32,984 and with the rapid economic growth, the value of trade has increased tremendously from RM6.3 billion in 1980 to RM147.0 billion in 2013 and our balance of trade remained positive and increased substantially from RM1.7 billion in 1980 to RM68.7 in 2013."

He said that the rakyat are now able to enjoy better livelihoods with more new business and employment opportunities and as a result of rapid economic growth, more employment opportunities were created. 

"This can be seen in the increased number of job vacancies from 374 in 1980 to 68,646 in 2012. With more job opportunities available, the unemployment from 5.8% 1980 to 3.8% in 2013," he said adding that the average monthly income per household has also increased RM580 in 1980 and to RM4,293 over the same period. 

"Due to the incidence of poverty has been systematic and relentless Government intervention in poverty eradication, great success has been made and the Government is still committed in addressing this issue through the continued implementation of the various poverty eradication programmes." 

"With political stability, strong economic foundation and social harmony in the State, Government was able to plan and implement more development programmers including the provision of health and education services to the rakyat."

"In 1980, Sarawak has only 15 Government hospitals and 165 doctors compared to the present where the situation has improved and the rakyat have better access to health services with 22 hospitals and 1,717 doctors," he said adding that the quality of health services has also improved with better doctor to population ratio from one doctor serving 7,068 people in 1980 to one doctor serving 1,483 in 2012. 

"Human capital is one of the pillars in the country's development. A lot of efforts have been made to improved the quality of education in the State. In fact, the efforts have produced encouraging results as manifested in the better teacher to student ratio in the secondary school from 26 in 1980 to 14 in 2012. With presence of 110 institutions of higher learning including having the opportunities to further their studies in the branch campus of foreign universities." 

He pointed out that despite the big size of the State, progress has been made in infrastructure development with our road network has increased from about 5,000 kilometres in 1980 to 23,000 kilometres in 2013. 

"The electricity coverage has also expanded from 34.0% in 1980 to 90.0% in 2013. About 86.0% of population has enjoyed treated water supply in 2013 as compared to 32.0% in 1980. However, the State Government acknowledges that there are still gaps in the provision of basic infrastructure especially in the rural areas."

"In this respect, be rest assured that we remain committed in addressing these issues. for this reason, we wil work closely with the Federal Government under the Eleventh Malaysia Plan whereby rural transformation will be one of the key thrusts of our State Eleventh Malaysia Plan."

"As a leader ahead of this time, Tuan Yang Terutama was tireless in preparing Sarawak to face greater futuere challenhes brought about by globallisation, trade liberalisation, ICT and k-economy. The philosophy of "New Reality" was then introduced and has brought about the establishment of more high tech industries into the Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone."

"The setting up of a wafer fabrication plant in this industrial zone is a case in point that has positioned Sarawak in the forefront of the high tech electronic industries. It had also attracted many young talented Sarawakians working abroad to return and serve the State."

"We are fortunate that Sarawak is a land blessed with many rivers and plenty of water. Tuan Yang Terutama's wisdom in realising the potentials of water has brought about the systematic development of hydro dams to generated electricity to attract energy intensive industries. This idea has led to the formulation of a long term development plan known as the Sarawak Corridor Renewable Energy or in short SCORE to propel Sarawak to become a developed and high income State by 2020."

"SCORE continues to make good progress. More investors have expressed their interest to invest in SCORE. We have been successful in attracting many trigger projects such a aluminium smelting, ferro alloy, poly-silicon, metallic silicon and chemical Industries."

"The present of these trigger industries has better position us to attract supporting industries and not forgetting our oocal Small and Medium Industries. The establishment of both trigger and supporting industries augurs well with our plan to develop clusters for the respective industries," he said. 

"To date, 19 projects have been approved in SCORE with total investment of more than RM32.0 billion and are expected to created more than 16,000 direct job opportunities. SamLaju Industrial Park continues to be main attraction. Fifteen(15) project with investment totalling more than RM27.0 billion have been approved in the Park. The remaining 4 projects with investment worth more than RM5.0 billion are located in Mukah, Tanjung Manis and Kidurong."

"This reflects the confidence that investors have on SCORE as an continue to ensure the timely provision of social and basic infrastructure in Samalaju Industrial Park. The constructionworks related to the samalaju New Township, Hotel,Service Centre, Samalaju Port and other industrial infrastructures planned for the park are progressing well."

"For Sarawak to prosper in the years ahead, we have decided to go along the path of industrialising the State. SCORE has provided us with the foundation for industrialisation and the establishment of these industries demands the availability of technical and skill manpower. For this reason, I would like to urge the younger generation to take up technical training to meet the requirements of these industries," he said and concluded to Tuan Yang Terutama that, "as of this day the state of Sarawak is safe, peaceful and prosperous." -Sarawakiana