Petros has identified nine promising onshore areas of new oil and gas reserves

KUCHING, Oct 21 2026: State oil company Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) has identified nine promising onshore areas of new oil and gas reserves, Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.

Caption: Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan says downstream development is also progressing well

He said Petros plans to drill ten exploratory wells, beginning in Balingian, Limbang-Lawas, Marudi and Niah, involving an estimated investment of RM500 million.

"Sarawak is stepping up onshore exploration using advanced technologies to identify new oil and gas reserves," he said in his winding up speech.

He added downstream development is also progressing, noting that Sarawak Petchem has exported more than 180 cargoes of methanol, strengthening Sarawak’s presence in the global petrochemical market and demonstrating the value of processing the gas resources into higher-value products.

"Looking ahead, proposed low-carbon methanol, ammonia and urea projects will further expand our downstream industries and support the transition towards lower-carbon industrial development," he added.

State ministry has completed comprehensive Investment Policy Study to provide framework to attract high-value investments

KUCHING, Oct 21 2026: The Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment has completed a comprehensive Sarawak Investment Policy Study that provides a strategic framework to attract high-value investments, diversify the industrial base, strengthen local participation and create skilled employment. 

Caption: Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan says the study identifies four priority growth clusters

Its minister Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the study identifies four priority growth clusters, with a projected investment potential of RM275 billion to RM330 billion and 254,000 jobs by 2030.

"The first two clusters are Clean Energy Industries, leveraging renewable energy to develop green manufacturing, and Petrochemicals, expanding downstream gas, petrochemical and oleochemical industries, including sustainable aviation fuel and carbon capture activities," Awang Tengah, who is also the deputy premier, said in his winding up speech in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.

He said the other two clusters are Advanced Industries, covering semiconductors, electronics, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, bioindustries, AI data centres and high-value food manufacturing; and Tourism and Services, focusing on ecotourism, business events, higher education, medical and digital services.

Awang Tengah said to connect local businesses with these opportunities, the state government ise building commercial linkages through the Sarawak Global Supply Chain and Sourcing Programme 2026 in Kuching and engagements in Shanghai, Seoul, London and Munich.

"We will continue to intensify these efforts to expand market access, build business partnerships and strengthen the competitiveness of local businesses, next year," he said.

He added the emphasis is on practical outcomes: stronger supplier relationships, technology partnerships and access to regional and global supply chains.

State government has issued three Forest Carbon Licences so far, says Awang Tengah

KUCHING, Oct 21 2026:The Sarawak government has issued three Forest Carbon Licences covering an area of ​​56,816.20 hectares as of this month, Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said. 

Caption: Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan (centre) having a light moment with Deputy Minister Len Talih Salleh before winding up his speech

He said eight entities have been granted Carbon Study Permits, encompassing an area of ​​178,740 hectares. 

"These permits authorize the holders to conduct studies and prepare a Sarawak Project Design Document (SPDD), a prerequisite for Forest Carbon Licence applications,"  he said in his winding up speech in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.

He said to date, Sarawak’s forest carbon initiatives are implemented in alignment with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, operating on a voluntary basis. 

"Unlike a compliance-based approach, which mandates adherence to specific laws, regulations, or carbon market mechanisms, both frameworks remain subject to the prevailing legal and governance structures.

He said the state government will continue to strengthen research and technical capabilities through the deployment of modern technology, including Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) so to ensure that forest carbon development is grounded in accurate scientific data,. 

"This approach is essential for enhancing the precision of forest carbon potential assessments, supporting data-driven planning, and ensuring that forest carbon activities are carried out responsibly—without compromising ecosystem integrity or the interests of local communities," Awamg Tengah added.

Integrated development roadmap for Rare Earth Element industry finalised, says Awang Tengah

KUCHING, Oct 21 2026: The state government has finalised an integrated development roadmap for the Rare Earth Element (REE) industry, covering the entire value chain from upstream to downstream—with the goal of establishing a "super magnet" industry, said Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.

Caption: Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan says the Sarawak government has approved an allocation of RM18 million to conduct a study on the potential presence of REE resources

He said the initiative is intended to support the development of the semiconductor, aerospace, and satellite sectors in Sarawak, as well as to cater to the manufacturing of electric vehicles, defense technology, medical applications, and other fields.

"As an initial step toward developing this industry, the Sarawak government has approved an allocation of RM18 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) to conduct a study on the potential presence of REE resources across an area of ​​approximately 3,134 square kilometers," he said in his winding up speech.

He said the federal government has been requested to provide a larger allocation to the Sarawak branch of the Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia, enabling the assessment of these mineral resources to be expanded throughout the entire state of Sarawak.

Awang Tengah: 1.249 million hectares or 3.089 million acres of NCR land have been surveyed

KUCHING, Oct 21 2026: The Land and Survey Department has surveyed 1.249 million hectares or 3.089 acres of native customary rights (NCR) land from October 2010 to Sept 2026, Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan told the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today. 

Caption: Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan says that 979,000 hectares of NCR land have been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserves

 He said of this total, approximately 979,000 hectares (2.42 million acres) have been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserves (Agriculture) under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code.

He said since 2017, the surveying of individual lots has been intensified to facilitate the issuance of land titles under Section 18, stating that to date, 112,711 lots have been successfully surveyed. 

"The Sarawak government consistently recognises rights over NCR land that are valid and established in accordance with land laws," he said in his winding up speech. 

"To accelerate NCR land surveying, the state government has expanded the capacity of the Land and Survey Department by recruiting 467 new officers, engaging private surveyors, and implementing surveying technologies that offer greater speed and precision. The Sarawak Government has approved RM40 million to strengthen this programme.

"The federal government, meanwhile, has approved RM15 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), of which RM2 million was disbursed to the Sarawak Land and Survey Department in 2026," he said.