KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described the awarding of the Honorary Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) to the Premier
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, as highly appropriate due to his exemplary leadership in developing Sarawak.
He said that Abang Johari is among the leaders who have demonstrated that political stability is crucial to enabling leadership to focus on state development, explore new ideas and policies, and move beyond outdated frameworks.
“He seeks avenues in renewable energy and often discusses ways to explore opportunities across borders to achieve reasonable returns for the state.
“This is evident when leadership is driven by vision, understanding, and the mobilisation of government machinery alongside collaboration with the private sector and universities to realise those aspirations.
“I would like to state that the selection of Abang Johari is fitting as he exemplifies how to plan for a state effectively,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the MIP Planning Excellence Awards 2024, held at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur last night (Jan 24).
Earlier in his speech, he highlighted Sarawak’s strength as a regional energy hub, which will serve as a catalyst for energy power within ASEAN.
Anwar said that discussions have been held with the Philippine government to enable energy resources from Sarawak and Sabah to extend to Indonesia and subsequently to the Philippines.
“This requires focus and collaboration from all parties to make it a success,” explained the Prime Minister.
At the event, Anwar presented the MIP Honorary Fellow award to Abang Johari.
He also presented the MIP President’s Award to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Sarawak (MUDeNR) for excellence in transforming planning governance through the innovative Sarawak Electronic State Planning Authority System.
Receiving the award were State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, and MUDeNR Permanent Secretary Datuk Abdullah Julaihi.
