Datuk Snowdan Lawan
KUCHING (Jan 14): Sarawak’s plan to construct a new international airport in the next five years will boost the number of visitor arrivals to the state, said Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
The Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Deputy Minister said the proposed new airport project is one of the many visionary strategic plans by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“The new airport will be able to cater to the expanding tourist arrivals in the next five to 10 years, as tourism is expected to continue to boom.
“Plans to build a new international airport as well as deep-sea port in the next five years, which require an injection of billions in investments, are bold moves by our Premier to spearhead Sarawak’s economic growth, notably tourism,” he said in a statement.
He also said that the acquisition of a commercial bank and airline—another brainchild of Abang Johari’s—were strategic and bold moves by the state.
“With the new airline, we expect to capture a bigger share of tourist arrivals from Asia, the Middle East and Europe.”
Snowdan, who is Balai Ringin assemblyman, said Abang Johari has set a very clear direction for Sarawak to become a developed state since taking helm as Premier eight years ago.
“A realistic vision has been laid for all of us to achieve. Now the Premier is inviting us all to join in this mission to prosper Sarawak and her people.
“The groundwork, which is to take care of the state economy, has been fruitful thus far as a result from revenue re-engineering strategies initiated by the Premier himself.
“The first hurdle which is to become a high-income state by 2030 with gross national income of US$13,205 per capita in 2022 (maintained in 2023 with US$16,650), has been achieved seven years ahead of schedule and endorsed by the World Bank last year ahead of the projected target of 2030,” he said.
According to Snowdan, Sarawak has been able to generate more revenue over the past few years, and this expected increase in the coming years through the state sales tax (SST) on petroleum products, inland collection, export earnings, tourism receivables, and from Petroleum Sarawak Berhad’s projected income as the sole gas aggregator.
He said some of Abang Johari’s ongoing initiatives such as the green economy sectors are expected to boost the state coffer in the coming years as well.
“Infrastructure development in the state has seen robust completion of mega projects such as roads and bridges.
“This will accelerate movement of goods and ease business activities, open up land banks, improve connectivity amongst people from rural to urban and vice versa. In the long run, this will upgrade the peoples’ standard of living,” he remarked.
Snowdan said in-house initiatives implemented by Abang Johari such as the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance, and upcoming Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance, are meant to assist the people.
“With all these initiatives and plans laid down by our Premier, they have proven to be success stories for the state over a short period of eight years.
“I urge all Sarawakians to rally behind him with our continuous and full support to his remarkable leadership.
“Let us consolidate our efforts together to realise our dreams for Sarawak to become a developed state and simultaneously to alleviate poverty to the barest minimum,” he said.
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