SRI AMAN: Sarawak continues to attract the interest of international investors, including those from Japan, to explore opportunities in high-tech industries such as the development of smart data centres.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said that, apart from its energy supply capacity, the Sarawak Government’s free tertiary education policy was also among the factors attracting these investors.

He said the policy could produce a local workforce equipped with the technological knowledge and skills needed to meet the future demands of high-tech industries.

“During my meeting with the investor from Japan, he said he had studied Sarawak’s policies and was attracted not only by the state’s energy capabilities, but also viewed its free education policy as one of Sarawak’s key strengths in preparing its people to achieve a higher level of technological advancement.

“This shows that education not only benefits the children of Sarawak, but is also one of the factors that enhances the state’s appeal to international investors,” he said.

He said this when officiating at the Sarawakku Sayang (SKS) Programme for the Sri Aman Division at the Sri Aman Sports Complex here on Saturday.

Elaborating further, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari said Sarawak was now building an ecosystem that would enable local people to acquire education and the latest technological skills to meet the needs of high-tech industries, including the semiconductor and data centre sectors.

He explained that the Sarawak Government allocated RM200 million annually for the implementation of free tertiary education for Sarawakians, covering 64 study programmes, including science-based fields and other disciplines required by the state’s economy.

“Once they pass their examinations, they will secure places and proceed directly to university, regardless of their social background, whether they are children of fishermen, farmers or from B40 families,” he said.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Ministers, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak Deputy Ministers, Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED), who is also the Minister responsible for the Sarawakku Sayang (SKS) Programme in the Sri Aman Division Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Sri Aman MP Dato Sri Doris Sophia Brodi, Sri Aman Division Resident Mahra Salleh, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews

Translator: Uilson Ng