Sarawak Premier highlights engineering role and RM200m Bumiputera contract milestone

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has highlighted the critical role of engineers in driving the state’s green and sustainable development. Speaking at the 34th FEIAP General Assembly, he emphasized the need for resilient infrastructure, clean energy systems, and a new generation of engineering leaders to support Sarawak’s climate goals and technological advancement.

In a related development regarding state procurement, the Premier announced that a policy allocating 30 percent of major state government projects to Bumiputera contractors has already resulted in RM200 million in contracts. This follows a successful pilot scheme with Sarawak Energy Berhad. Currently, 60 out of 61 projects under this allocation have been awarded via a ballot system.

Dato Ismail Suut, chairman of the Malaysian Malay Contractors Association (PKMM) Sarawak branch, noted that while access to these projects has increased, contractors must prove their technical capability rather than relying solely on quotas. To support this, the Sarawak government has provided heavy machinery to PKMM to assist in technical upskilling and reduce reliance on foreign labor.