Anwar said Sarawak’s development has positioned the state among the nation’s top performers, The Borneo Post reported.
“While Sarawak joined Malaysia slightly later and was, in the past, left behind in several areas, the situation has changed significantly.
“Today, Sarawak stands among the top states in terms of benefits extended to the people, many of which are driven by the state government’s contributions,” he said at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration held at Stadium Perpaduan in Kuching today.
It was previously reported that Sarawak intends to be the nation’s second highest contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) before the next state polls.
Last year, premier Abang Johari Openg said Sarawak was currently the third largest GDP contributor, having overtaken Johor, the Borneo Post reported.
He cited a report by the state’s public communication unit, which also placed Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in the first and second spot, respectively.
Anwar also noted that Sarawak has taken the lead in pioneering new industries and spearheading developments in the energy and gas sectors.
He also praised Sarawak’s proactive approach in advancing its development independently.
“Take, for example, the cancer hospital in Kuching (Sarawak Cancer Centre). The proposal is commendable, but it is still new and requires a federal allocation of RM1 billion,” he said.
“However, after constructive discussions with the state government, Sarawak agreed to advance the RM1 billion to proceed with the project first, while the federal government will reimburse the amount later.”
Meanwhile, Abang Johari was confident that the close relationship between the Sarawak and federal governments would ensure a bright future for the state, Berita Harian reported.
At today’s event, he said that with the strong leadership in Putrajaya, Sarawak can focus on building a new economy that will also contribute to strengthening Malaysia’s overall economic position.
Anwar is on a one-day working visit to Kuching. Earlier, he attended a special meeting regarding the state’s development at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, according to Bernama.