Sustainable Development Central To Balancing Economic Growth & Environmental Protection
LIMBANG: Sustainable development remains a key priority of the Sarawak Government as it seeks to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental stewardship, ensuring the state's progress goes hand in hand with the conservation of natural resources and greater resilience against the impacts of climate change.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the state is committed to pursuing sustainable development by balancing economic advancement with environmental conservation to safeguard long-term prosperity without compromising its natural resources.
“We are now facing the realities of climate change. It is no longer a challenge for the future or the next generation, but one that is already upon us.
“Climate change is a global challenge that we must confront, including extreme weather incidents such as major floods, droughts, rising temperatures, coastal erosion, soil erosion, haze and the increasing loss of biodiversity,” he said.
He spoke to officiate the Limbang District Seminar on Empowering Community Leaders and Village Chiefs (KMKK) in Environmental Stewardship Towards Sustainable Development Series 1/2026 on Monday.
The Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development added that development in Sarawak is planned holistically, taking into account sustainable land use while strengthening the conservation of forests and protected areas to ensure development progresses in harmony with environmental preservation.
According to him, Sarawak is also close to achieving its target of gazetting at least one million hectares of forest as Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), further reinforcing the state government's commitment to conserving biodiversity and ecosystems.
Meanwhile, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah said the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) will continue to be strengthened to coordinate environmental management in Sarawak, including gradually assuming the functions of the Department of Environment (DOE) following the Federal Government's approval.
He added that the state government is also promoting waste-to-energy technology besides expanding the use of renewable energy and fostering greater public awareness that environmental conservation is a shared responsibility that should be instilled from a young age.
Also present were Lawas Member of Parliament Dato Henry Sum Agong, Batu Danau Assemblyman Dato Paulus Palu Gumbang, Controller of Environmental Quality Sarawak Datu Jack Liam, Limbang Division Resident Unus Tambi, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) General Manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran and Limbang District Officer Sulaiman Engal. -UKASnews
