BINTULU: Sarawak has earned recognition on the international stage in its climate change mitigation efforts, said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The Premier said that former Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull has expressed admiration for Sarawak’s endeavours in managing climate challenges during the 2023 World Hydropower Congress in Bali recently.
“I have just come back from Bali where I shared with the international participants what Sarawak is doing for the world in terms of climate change mitigation.
“The participants were applauding and the former Australian Prime Minister said, ‘that is the right approach, I salute Sarawak’.
“He said that he looks up to Sarawak because we are leading the way when it comes to managing climate change issues,” Abang Johari said.
He made these remarks during the handover and launching ceremony of the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) Bintulu campus here today (November 1).
Abang Johari stated that while the state’s economy is steering towards a green trajectory, the integration of scientific expertise becomes paramount.
“This is a significant problem for our planet. Therefore, when conducting a study in Sarawak, we are grateful that our carbon emissions are still in the negative.
“Additionally, Sarawak has all the essential resources such as extensive forests, abundant rivers, rainfall and sunlight.
“What we now need is a thorough understanding of the scientific methods to harness and optimise these resources sustainably,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; State Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Deputy Federal Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang; Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah; Petronas chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh; Yayasan Sarawak director Mersal Abang Rosli; and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) director Azhar Abdul Manaf.
