KUCHING, Aug 29: Sarawak has the potential to not only rival but even surpass developed nations like Sweden within 30 years, provided its vast resources are managed with transparency, accountability, and integrity, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Speaking at Sarawak Integrity Day 2025 at the Borneo Centre Convention Centre (BCCK) here yesterday, Abang Johari pointed out that countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland became global benchmarks for governance and accountability because they safeguarded their natural wealth through a culture of integrity.
“Norway today has the world’s richest sovereign wealth fund because it managed its oil properly and transparently.
“If we in Sarawak can instil the same values, there is no reason why we cannot be on par with them,” he said.
The Premier stressed that good governance is not only about economic growth but also about ensuring resources are reinvested into infrastructure, education, and technology to improve household incomes and uplift the lives of the people.
He reminded the civil service that integrity must go hand in hand with knowledge, warning that integrity without knowledge is useless, while knowledge without integrity is dangerous.
The organisation of Sarawak Integrity Day 2025 serves as a platform to promote the values of integrity among civil servants and society throughout Sarawak, and as a space for the exchange of ideas and knowledge on integrity among Sarawakians in particular, and Malaysians in general.
“Norway today has the world’s richest sovereign wealth fund because it managed its oil properly and transparently.
“If we in Sarawak can instil the same values, there is no reason why we cannot be on par with them,” he said.
The Premier stressed that good governance is not only about economic growth but also about ensuring resources are reinvested into infrastructure, education, and technology to improve household incomes and uplift the lives of the people.
He reminded the civil service that integrity must go hand in hand with knowledge, warning that integrity without knowledge is useless, while knowledge without integrity is dangerous.
The organisation of Sarawak Integrity Day 2025 serves as a platform to promote the values of integrity among civil servants and society throughout Sarawak, and as a space for the exchange of ideas and knowledge on integrity among Sarawakians in particular, and Malaysians in general.