MIRI – Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg has highlighted Miri’s historical and economic significance in Malaysia’s development, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking at the 2025 Sarawak Day celebration held at Miri City Stadium, the Premier described Miri as a symbol of Sarawak’s substantial contribution to Malaysia. He recalled that Miri was the starting point of the nation’s oil and gas industry when Shell first drilled for oil in 1910.
“Miri was where it all began. The development of Malaysia’s oil and gas sector started here, making the city a catalyst for national and regional economic growth,” he said.
The Premier also referenced the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO 1958), a key legal framework enacted by the British to manage oil resource development in Sarawak. He noted that the ordinance laid the groundwork for systematic exploitation of oil in the state, which has significantly influenced Malaysia’s energy landscape.
Abang Zohari emphasised the appropriateness of choosing Miri as the venue for this year’s Sarawak Day celebration, given its pivotal role in shaping Sarawak’s and Malaysia’s economic history.
“From the time of the Brooke and British administrations until today, Miri has been central to Sarawak’s economic advancement. It is undeniable that the oil and gas industry in Malaysia began in Sarawak, in Miri,” he said.
He further revealed that Sarawak is now among the top three contributors to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounting for about 10 per cent of the nation’s economic output.
The Sarawak Governor, Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, were present to officiate the grand event alongside other dignitaries.
The remarks underscore the vital role Sarawak continues to play in Malaysia’s economy, with Miri standing as a proud testament to that legacy.
