2026 Set To Solidify Sarawak's Position AS A Green Energy & Technology Hub
KUCHING: The Sarawak Government is optimistic that this year will bring significant success to various strategic state initiatives designed to strengthen the economy, education, energy, and high technology.
The Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, stated that among the primary focuses is the expansion of AirBorneo routes to regional destinations to enhance connectivity and stimulate the tourism and trade sectors.
“I am confident that the Year of the Horse 2026 will bring success to our strategic initiatives, including the expansion of AirBorneo to regional destinations and the operation of Bintulu Port — which has been returned to Sarawak by the Federal Government—as Sarawak’s main port.”
He said this in his 2026 Chinese New Year message on Sunday.
In terms of human capital development, the implementation of the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), which begins this year, is seen as a vital step in preparing a highly skilled workforce among young Sarawakians. He noted that this initiative provides broader opportunities for the younger generation to pursue higher education, thereby becoming strategic assets for the state's development.
In another development, he shared that Kuching City is expected to receive the first hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) service in the ASEAN region by the final quarter of 2026.
At the same time, early 2026 marked Sarawak’s success in connecting the state's electricity grid with Sabah to supply approximately 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity. This connection is the second of its kind, following Sarawak's supply of between 190 MW and 200 MW of green energy to West Kalimantan since 2016. Future connections with Brunei are expected to establish a Borneo Grid, leveraging Sarawak’s green energy resources across the entire island.
From a regional cooperation perspective, 2026 also opens the potential for closer ties between Malaysia and Indonesia, particularly in the generation and distribution of cross-border green energy and high-tech development.
“Two weeks ago, I attended the 2026 Indonesia Economic Summit, where the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs expressed a desire to collaborate with Sarawak in the semiconductor field, as Sarawak has already shown success in this sector," he said. - UKASnews
