Structured Planning Drives Success of Sarawak's Development
SIBU: Structured planning is the primary factor behind the success of Sarawak's development, reaching the status enjoyed today.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol said that every administration requires clear strategic planning, as failure to plan will make it difficult to execute any policy or development agenda.
“An administration needs structured planning. If we fail to plan, we are bound to fail,” he said when presenting an briefing on the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) at the PBB Central Zone Special Convention 2026 at Sibu Indoor Stadium on Sunday.
The Supreme Council Member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) added that Sarawak's decision to leave Barisan Nasional (BN) in 2018 and form Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) allowed Sarawak to administer and manage its economic revenue with greater independence.
According to him, state revenue increased from approximately RM7 billion to between RM13 billion and RM14 billion following the implementation of several strategic policies, including the State Sales Tax (SST) on petroleum products and the Digital Economy agenda introduced since 2017.
“This strong revenue enabled us to channel billions of ringgit in assistance to the people affected during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021,” he said.
Datuk Abdullah said that the struggle to champion Sarawak's rights was also translated through various initiatives that directly benefit the people.
Among them are the RM1,000 assistance for every newborn in Sarawak, the establishment of Sarawak Government-owned International Schools offering free education, and assistance for Sarawakian youths to settle their outstanding National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan balances.
In the meantime, he said that the PBB machinery needs to understand the challenges of administering Sarawak, which has a geographical area equivalent to Peninsular Malaysia.
He also called on party branches and sub-branches across all 887 voting districts and 1,981 polling centers to stand ready in updating voter data, including young voters aged 18 across the state.
“Our philosophy is ‘Jaga Sarawak’ and guard our respective areas. Leaders and the machinery must understand why we need to prioritize Sarawak first to ensure the people's well-being continues to be safeguarded,” he added. — UKASnews
