SIBU: Sarawak’s abundant river resources give the state an advantage in developing the semiconductor, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced manufacturing industries, which require clean energy and water for cooling systems, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said this advantage must be harnessed through proper river management to support the growth of high-tech industries and strengthen the state’s economic competitiveness.
“Since Sarawak has many rivers, we clean them and treat the water for green energy and cooling systems for high-tech manufacturing industries,” he said when officiating at the national-level World Rivers Day celebration here today.
Abang Johari said water and energy were essential requirements for high-tech development, making river conservation part of efforts to attract high-value economic activities to Sarawak.
He said Malaysia also needed to strengthen its capacity to develop its own technologies to escape the middle-income trap.
He said the development of the semiconductor industry and exploration of the space economy were among Sarawak’s efforts to build technological capabilities, supported by human capital development through free education for Sarawakian children.
“We must try,” he said, stressing that Sarawakians must continue striving to master new technologies.
On energy development, Abang Johari said rivers were important assets for hydroelectric power generation and supported Sarawak’s contribution to the ASEAN Power Grid.
He also proposed harnessing river flows through a cascade dam concept to generate electricity, with engineering simulations used to demonstrate how the system would operate.
He said water management also supported food security through the use of reservoirs and water recycling for padi cultivation.
Abang Johari said such development must be balanced with environmental conservation, in line with Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
He also urged the public to refrain from dumping rubbish into rivers to protect aquatic ecosystems and preserve the livelihoods of local communities, particularly fishermen.