KUCHING: The Sarawak state government is looking to shift its industrialisation towards a modern economy that is more environmentally friendly.

Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said a conference, involving foreign experts, would soon be held to deliberate on the matter. The state would prioritise attracting investments from industries that are less polluting to the environment as well as the promoting of green technology.

“We will hold a conference to explore our economic development based on the resources that we have and the investments (the state is looking to attract).

“We will focus on attracting, as many as possible, non-polluting industries to preserve the environment. We have to explore new ways to develop our economy,” he told reporters at Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Chinese New Year open house here on Saturday.

Abang Johari, who is also Resource Planning and Environment Minister, added that Sarawak’s economic strength is its vast natural resources and sustainable energy, where the environment must be preserved at all costs.

“The state secretary (Tan Sri Morshidi Abdul Ghani) will chair the conference. I have requested for it to be held as soon as possible. We will talk to international experts on what Sarawak can do to develop its economy,” he continued.

Abang Johari said his predecessor, the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem, had prioritised transforming the state’s rural areas to have vibrant economic activities.

Among the sectors earmarked for rural areas include tourism and agriculture. At the same time, he said the government would continue to build infrastructure to support the development of these industries in state interior areas.

On a different note, Abang Johari expressed his gratitude to PKR for sitting out the Feb 18 by-election in Tanjong Datu.

Meanwhile, some 2,000 people attended SUPP's Chinese New Year do at its headquarters here from 9am till 12pm.

Sarawak Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib were among those present. Also in attendance were deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Tan Sri Dr James Masing as well as SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.







Also mingling with the crowd were former deputy chief ministers Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang and Tan Sri Dr George Chan, who is also former SUPP president.