KUCHING, Jan 28 2926: Premier Abang Johari Openg has expressed his belief that Sarawak’s future economy will not succeed without the participation of women.
Premier Abang Johari Openg: We need female engineers, female scientists, female data scientists, female technology entrepreneurs and female leaders in each of the new sectors.
He said Sarawak is now moving towards a new economy — green energy, hydrogen, digital economy, aerospace, creative industries and high technology.
“This is the future of our state,” he said at the opening of the Borneo Zone of the International Women’s Day here today.
“We need female engineers, female scientists, female data scientists, female technology entrepreneurs and female leaders in each of the new sectors.
“That is why the Sarawak government places great emphasis on human capital development, including the free higher education initiative in state-owned institutions, so that Sarawakian children, including our daughters have access to education without financial barriers,” the premier said.
Abang Johari stressed that education is the key to social mobility, adding that when a woman is educated, her entire family will be uplifted and the next generation will be more successful.
The premier said that the state government also places emphasis on protecting the welfare and safety of women, especially the vulnerable groups.
“Based on the 2024 People's Happiness Index, women in Sarawak recorded a happier score than men, at 7.54 compared to 7.52 for men.
“Women who are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy will form stronger family institutions and more resilient societies.
“This effort requires integrated cooperation between the federal and state governments, implementing agencies and civil society, in line with the spirit of 'Segulai Sejalai'.
“In the digital era, the use of technology also plays an important role in strengthening social support systems, including access to information, assistance services, education and mental health support for women,”he said.
He said the importance of increasing women's involvement in leadership and policy-making is also a focus of the state government.
He said a report by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) stated that in December 2025, women holding decision-making and top management positions in public agencies amounted to 39.3 percent while in 2024, the board of directors of 100 Public Listed Companies (PLCs) was 33 percent.
“However, the development of women's leadership capacity needs to be continued systematically so that more women can contribute at the strategic level,” he said.
He also said that women's mastery of technology, data and digital innovation skills also needs to be empowered so that they not only become technology users, but also play roles as creators, leaders and decision-makers in the country's digital ecosystem.
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