Abang Jo Calls On Sarawak To Dream Big And Rise Like China Through Technology

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Abang Johari (seventh right) joins recipients of the association’s Outstanding Contribution Award and Long Service Award for a group photo at the event on October 4, 2025. — The Borneo Post picKUCHING, Oct 5 — Sarawak must learn from China’s transformation by embracing new technology to strengthen its economy, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Speaking at the 31st anniversary dinner of the Sarawak Foundry & Engineering Industries Association (SWKFEIA) here last night, he pointed to China’s rapid rise over the past three decades as a model Sarawak could emulate.


“We have to embrace new technology. If China can do it, Sarawak can do it also,” he said.
Abang Johari recalled visiting Shenzhen and Beijing in the early 1990s, when China had just begun its open-door policy under Deng Xiaoping.
“Shenzhen was the first area to be opened up because it is next to Hong Kong. Deng Xiaoping said it doesn’t matter whether the cat is black or white as long as it catches mice.
“This policy has changed China for the past 31 years,” he said.
He also highlighted Beijing’s progress, noting how the city had improved significantly from its once heavily polluted state.
“The lesson we can learn from China is that they keep on changing and adopting new technology.
“That is what happened to China, and today they are the second largest economy in the world,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak is on a similar path, with renewable energy and high-tech industries at the forefront.
“In Sarawak, we are very lucky. We have a lot of water, and through electrolysis, we can extract hydrogen as a new energy fuel.
“That is why we launched our Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system powered by hydrogen,” he said.
He added that Sarawak is also investing in solar power and semiconductor research.
“We succeeded in producing gallium nitride chips, stronger than silicon, and this will be branded as Sarawak’s own — Keteq AI GaN — developed through collaboration in the UK,” he said.
Abang Johari highlighted the growing semiconductor ecosystem in the Samajaya Free Industrial Zone, home to global manufacturers including Belgian-linked X-FAB Sarawak.
To support such developments, he announced that free tertiary education will be offered to all Sarawakians in local universities starting next year, including Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders.
“This is to prepare our human capital in order to embrace new technology,” he said.
He also emphasised Sarawak’s advantages of affordable energy and abundant water.
“Our current is the cheapest in this region. At the same time, we have water. With energy and skills, we can develop new industries just like China did,” he said.
Abang Johari further cited the methanol project in Bintulu, recently recognised by the World Economic Forum as an emerging low-carbon industrial cluster.
He urged the engineering and foundry sector to play its part in Sarawak’s technological transformation.
“We have to embrace and learn new technology. That is the way forward,” he said. — The Borneo Post

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