He attributed Sarawak’s numerous achievements in 2024 to the contributions of all parties, including the state’s civil service, Berita Harian reported.
“As a token of appreciation for the contributions and commitment by Sarawak’s civil service, I am pleased to announce a special financial assistance equivalent to two months’ salary, based on the basic salary for November,” he said in the Sarawak state legislative assembly today.
He also announced that federal civil servants serving in Sarawak would receive financial assistance of RM700 in the first quarter of next year.
Abang Johari said the total financial implication on the state government for both initiatives was estimated at RM190 million.
He also announced that Sarawakian students studying at higher education institutions nationwide will receive cash assistance.
“In my 2025 state budget speech, I provided further details about the RM1,200 allowance, which will be granted to students from low-income households with a per capita household income of RM1,500 or below.
“Several assemblymen of this august house expressed concerns about using per capita income as the eligibility criterion for this assistance.
“In response to these concerns, I am pleased to announce that all Sarawakian students at higher learning institutions across Malaysia will be eligible for the allowance as a one-off payment, regardless of their family’s household income,” he said.
Separately, Abang Johari said Sarawak will hold a feasibility study to explore venturing into the space industry.
He said the National Physical Planning Council previously deemed Sarawak as ideal and strategic for a space industry hub, particularly as a satellite launch site.
“Our geographical location near the equator offers an undeniable advantage. This reduces costs and increases payload efficiency, making us comparable to world-class facilities like the Guiana Space Centre, attracting global partnerships to establish Sarawak as a key player in space technology and services,” he said, according to Bernama.
He added that this would open Sarawak to more economic opportunities.