Premier of Sarawak YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Abang Haji Openg will be celebrating his eighth anniversary as chief executive of the Sarawak Government on 13th January 2025. Herewith are his major initiatives which have been implemented since taking office.
 
2017
 

• 13th January – Abang Johari was sworn in as the 6th Chief Minister of Sarawak at the age of 66.
• 8th March – Acquired Bakun HEP from the Federal Government for RM2.5 billion in cash and the remaining RM6.4 billion debt – thus starting the green energy and digital economy plan - Acquisition completed on 16th August.
• 11th May – establishment of Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS)
• 27th May – Establishment of Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR)
• 22nd June – Establishment of Sarawak Enforcement and Security Unit (UPKS)
• 7th August – Establishment of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS)
• 9th November – launching the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC)
• 10th November – Establishment of Centre of Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS)
• 17th November – Establishment of Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) with the passing of SMA Ordinance in DUN Sarawak
• 14th November – launching of Digital Kenyalang
• 15th November – launching of SPay Global (Sarawak Pay)
• 13th December – launching of Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy Plan (2018-2022)

 

2018
 

• 22nd January – incorporation of Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC)
• 28th March – launch of Industrialised Building System (IBS) in Sarawak
• 12th June – Formation of Gabungan Parti Sarawak by PBB, SUPP, PRS and PDP after the defeat of BN in the general election.
• 21st June – Establishment of UKAS
• 12th July – Recognition of the Native Territorial Domain (NTD)
• 9th November – establishment of the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC)
• 2nd December – launching of UTCs in Kuching, Sibu and Miri

2019
 

• 1st January – imposition of the State Sales Tax (SST) on oil and gas products in Sarawak
• January – Sarawak Government announced RM1 billion advanced payment to Federal Government to repair dilapidated schools in Sarawak to repair more than 1,000 schools
• 13th July – launching the Certified Integrity Officers (CeIO) programme – the first in the country
• Introduction of Initiatif Graduan Pulang Sarawak (IGPS), special flights for Sarawak students coming back to Sarawak from Semenanjung Malaysia
• 16th August – Establishment of Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS)

 
2020
 

• 4th May – RM1 flat rate for school buses in Sarawak to help mitigate the devastating impact of Covid-19
• Discount on both water and electricity to help mitigate the devastating impact of Covid-19
• Launching of nine (9) BKSS packages amounting to RM6.7 billion to help mitigate the devastating impact of Covid-19 for Sarawakians
• Sarawak introduced the COVIDTrace and Qmunity App
• 10th October - Establishment of TVS – first region in Malaysia to have own TV station

 
2021
 

• January – Distribution of Petros LPG cylinders with the collaboration between Petros and Petronas Dagangan Berhad
• 7th April – launching of the Sarawak Coast Guard (SCG)
• 23th April – Sarawak Sustainable Environment Plan giving rise to the establishment of the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESTY)
• Establishment of five (5) Sarawak International Schools based on Cambridge syllabus

 
2022
 

• 26th July – Implementation of Sustainable Development Agenda (SGA)

 
2023
 

• 20th March – Commencement of the Bio-Algae Commercial Plant, proving Sarawak’s capability to venture into green technology
• 4th October – Launching of the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030 (SDE2030)
• 20th November – Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) approved the Sarawak Ombudsman Bill, making Sarawak as the first region in Malaysia to have the Ombudsman Institution. It will provide check-and-balance in government departments/agencies and GLCs.

 
2024
 

• Announcement of free tertiary education at five Sarawak-owned IPTAs which will be implemented by 2026
• 17th July – Parliament passed the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Bill. Currently under negotiation pending compensation.
• 3rd October – Launch of Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Brunei (STATOB)
• 31st October – Petros was made the sole aggregator of oil and gas in Sarawak. Negotiation with Petronas is still ongoing.
• 11th November – Free laptops to be given to Sarawakians students who successfully enrolled into IPTA and IPTS
• 11th November DUN Sitting – Announcement of biggest budget in the history of Sarawak with RM15.8 billion
• 27th November – Sarawak Government acquired majority share in Affin Bank
• Sarawak to acquire MASWings and taking over Rural Air Service (RAS) in Sarawak and Sabah – expected to be finalized by 1Q 2025

 
 
2025
 

• 5th January – Announcing the Sarawak Basic Needs Contribution or Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) with a total allocation of RM464.5 million benefitting 888, 288 Sarawakians. The initiative will be launched on February 18th, 2025.

 
 
Noted: As of 8th January 2025 – there has been 137 initiatives which have been announced by the Premier of Sarawak