KUCHING – Sarawak’s financial position will play a central role in sustaining infrastructure development across the state, with the government prioritising improved road networks and connectivity for both urban and rural communities.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg said a strong financial foundation was necessary to ensure development projects could be implemented continuously and address the needs of people throughout Sarawak.
He said infrastructure planning must extend beyond major urban centres, with rural communities also requiring reliable transport links and improved access to essential facilities.
The Premier made the remarks during the launch of the Jalan Batu Kawah to Jalan Stephen Yong construction project in Kuching on the morning of 11 November 2026.
The new road project, which carries an estimated cost of more than RM200 million, is intended to connect Jalan Batu Kawa-Matang in Sungai Moyan with Jalan Stephen Yong.
Once completed, the route is expected to provide motorists with an alternative connection between the two areas, helping to ease traffic pressure while supporting the continued expansion of Kuching.
Abang Johari said the project formed part of the government’s wider approach to improving road accessibility as population growth, commercial development and investment continue to influence the state’s infrastructure requirements.
He noted that road improvements were not limited to making daily journeys more convenient. Better connectivity could also support the development of residential areas, strengthen commercial activities and create opportunities for the tourism sector.
The growing number of residents and businesses in developing areas has increased the importance of transport infrastructure in supporting economic activity. Road networks are particularly significant in connecting residential communities with commercial centres, workplaces and other essential destinations.
The Premier also highlighted the need to ensure that development remained balanced between urban and rural areas. He said road construction in some locations required substantial financial allocations, but such investments were necessary to improve accessibility for communities that depended on road connections.
Beyond physical infrastructure, Abang Johari linked Sarawak’s development prospects to its ability to maintain investor confidence.
He identified the state’s stability, progress in infrastructure provision and long-term development planning as factors influencing investment decisions. These elements, he said, were important in supporting economic expansion and attracting further business opportunities.
The Premier also referred to investment cooperation involving artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure with Japanese technology and investment group SoftBank.
The cooperation reflects Sarawak’s interest in developing its position within the technology-driven economy, where digital infrastructure and advanced computing capabilities are becoming increasingly relevant to business and industrial development.
AI infrastructure requires supporting facilities and long-term investment planning, making it part of the broader infrastructure agenda alongside conventional transport and connectivity projects.
However, the Premier’s remarks placed particular emphasis on maintaining the financial capacity needed to support development across different sectors without losing sight of the needs of local communities.
He said Sarawak’s economic and financial strength must continue to be reinforced so that infrastructure projects could proceed consistently and contribute to the state’s longer-term development objectives.
The government is pursuing its ambition to position Sarawak as a high-income region and one of Malaysia’s most developed states by 2030. Achieving that target will involve continued investment in infrastructure, economic activities and emerging technology sectors.
The Jalan Batu Kawah-Jalan Stephen Yong project represents one of the road infrastructure initiatives intended to support Kuching’s expanding urban areas while improving connections between established and developing neighbourhoods.
Abang Johari’s address underscored the relationship between the state’s financial resources, infrastructure planning and economic development, with improved connectivity identified as an important consideration in meeting the needs of Sarawak’s growing population.
The Premier said maintaining the state’s financial capacity would remain important in ensuring development could benefit communities across Sarawak as the state works towards its 2030 aspirations. â Sarawak Daily
