ACCCIS urged to help drive Sarawak’s RM282 bln GDP target

KUCHING (Feb 28): The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sarawak (ACCCIS) has been urged to play a stronger role in driving Sarawak’s push towards a RM282 billion gross domestic product (GDP) target over the next five years.

This is due to the fact that the state government will be focusing on policy direction rather than direct business operations, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Dr Sim said the Premier had never intended for the state’s growth to depend solely on government projects, stressing that achieving the ambitious target under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 would require strong collaboration between the government and the private sector, including the wider business community represented by ACCCIS.

“In the next five years, the chamber must be a strong partner to the Sarawak government.

“The Premier never said we depend only on government projects.

“It depends on the private sector working together to reach RM282 billion GDP,” he said during his speech at the ACCCIS Chinese New Year dinner at a hotel here on Friday night.

He emphasised that in strategic sectors such as green energy, hydrogen and the digital economy, the government would not run commercial operations but would instead provide policy frameworks and regulatory support to facilitate private sector participation.

However, he stressed that Sarawak’s transformation was not solely about making profits but about long-term nation-building.

He pointed out the importance of cultivating talent and competitiveness, citing China’s rapid rise in industries such as electric vehicles as an example of how intense competition and strong human capital development could strengthen an economy.

“During this nation-building phase, we must cultivate talent. The next generation must be more capable and wiser than us.

“Only then can Sarawak succeed,” he said.

He also highlighted the need for state-owned enterprises to transform, drawing lessons from Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund model, Temasek Holdings, and stressing the importance of professional, commercially driven management structures.

He expressed confidence that with strong public-private collaboration, Sarawak would be able to accelerate its growth trajectory over the next five years and position itself as a competitive and forward-looking economy within the region.

Among those present were Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China Song Changhong, Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai, and ACCCIS president Kong Chiong Ung.

Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sarawak Dr Sim Kui Hian Gross Domestic Product onsite sarawak economy