Abang Johari: Sarawak to fully fund executive training programme for local journalists
by Galileo Petingi · Borneo Post OnlineKUCHING (Dec 21): Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is offering Sarawak journalists the opportunity to partake in an executive programme as part of efforts to provide training and exposure.
In announcing this, he said he had instructed State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, together with Deputy Minister in the Premier of Sarawak Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and Ukas) Datuk Abdullah Saidol, to send journalists to attend the executive programme, with all costs fully borne by the state government.
“This initiative aims to produce journalists capable of analysing issues, finding solutions, and putting forward recommendations on matters at hand.
“That is the direction local journalists in Sarawak should take,” he said when speaking at the Kenyalang Journalism Awards 2025 held at a hotel here Saturday night.
Abang Johari also said Sarawak has the potential to become the first world-class region in Asean, provided that the development of its human capital is strengthened to strategically and sustainably harness the state’s wealth of resources.
He noted that despite Sarawak’s advantages in terms of land area, natural resources, and population size, the state still needs to enhance its intellectual capacity as the main driver of development.
He added that Sarawakians should be prepared to become key players in the regional economic landscape, particularly at the Asean level, as the confidence demonstrated enables the Sarawak government to continue playing a role in advancing not only the state and the nation but also humanity at large.
“Therefore, I hope journalists can play their part in analysing and rationalising the state’s development direction, while also putting forward constructive ideas and suggestions,” he said.