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The Malaysian government is committed to transforming the country’s education system to produce a cadre of graduates armed with the creative and critical thinking skills necessary to thrive and lead in the 21st century’s increasingly international workplaces. The approach is tailored to each area of the country. In Sarawak, which has a higher proportion of rural schools than Peninsular Malaysia, the ministry is prioritising support by providing funds for upgrades to the state’s education infrastructure, among other programmes. Policymakers and educators are clearly on course in planning for the changes Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy and other projects will bring to the people of Sarawak. Implementation is key and it is crucial that all of the state’s people gain from the private and public investment now being made in the state’s education system.

This chapter contains interviews with Professor Abdul Rahman Arshad, Chancellor of UCSI University; and Mohamad Abu Bakar bin Marzuki, Director, Yayasan Sarawak.

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The Malaysian government is committed to transforming the country’s education system to produce a cadre of graduates armed with the creative and critical thinking skills necessary to thrive and lead in the 21st century’s increasingly international workplaces. The approach is tailored to each area of the country. In Sarawak, which has a higher proportion of rural schools than Peninsular Malaysia, the ministry is prioritising support by providing funds for upgrades to the state’s education infrastructure, among other programmes. Policymakers and educators are clearly on course in planning for the changes Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy and other projects will bring to the people of Sarawak. Implementation is key and it is crucial that all of the state’s people gain from the private and public investment now being made in the state’s education system.

This chapter contains interviews with Professor Abdul Rahman Arshad, Chancellor of UCSI University; and Mohamad Abu Bakar bin Marzuki, Director, Yayasan Sarawak.

Slightly more off the beaten path than South-east Asia’s mainstream holiday destinations, Sarawak has plenty to offer those seeking a slightly less conventional travel experience. The state is positioning itself as a culture, adventure and nature destination and also looks to increase its share of the globally lucrative meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions market as organisers and planners pursue more unique and exotic locales to stage their events. While shortcomings in connectivity remain an obstacle to growth, the government has never pursued uncontained growth, as turning the state into a mass-market tourism destination would erode the natural attractions that appeal to visitors in the first place. Tourism has thus been identified as a vehicle to be prioritised for the contribution it can make toward a more inclusive model of economic growth.

This chapter contains interviews with Mike Cannon, Managing Director, Sarawak Convention Bureau; and Charlene Chan, Manager, Citadines Uplands Kuching. 

Steady economic growth, increased industrialisation, rapid urbanisation and one of the highest foreign investment rates in the country are all contributing to fuel a strong performance in Sarawak’s construction industry. The private and public sectors are doing their part to fill up the order books and, as a result, the construction industry has nearly doubled in productivity over the five-year span of 2009-13, during which the annual value of completed projects spiked from $1.5bn to $2.4bn. The myriad of factors influencing Sarawak’s real estate market have resulted in a mixed bag for the sector, with property growth, value and transaction activity all varying widely by region. Despite the regulatory uncertainties giving property developers and purchasers pause on a national level, the real estate market looks set to continue its strong run in Sarawak, due largely to a robust investment pipeline that should help fuel demand for the foreseeable future.

This chapter contains interviews with Richard Curtis, Group Managing Director, Cahya Mata Sarawak; and Joseph Wong Kee Liong, President, Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association.

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The state’s once underdeveloped transportation infrastructure is transitioning from a maligned weakness to a position of strength as improvements to air, sea and land connections continue to ease the flow of goods and people within Sarawak and abroad. For an island state whose inland waterways also still serve as the primary conduit for moving people and cargo internally, water transportation remains a key element in Sarawak’s logistical network and its further augmentation remains a focal point for future development. Road interconnectivity has been a high priority of federal development plans and a prerequisite of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy. Major investments in Sarawak’s transportation network are providing a substantial leap in capacity and capability, which should provide a strong base for the expected growth in coming years.

This chapter contains interviews with Michael Manyin Jawong, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications; Mior Ahmad Baiti, CEO, Bintulu Port Holdings; and Ritzerwan Rashid, CEO, MASwings.

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