Abang Johari: Impact assessment and good leadership key to economic stability

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (right) greeting Sunway Centre for Planetary Health director Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood at the International Association for Impact Assessment's annual conference, who delivered a keynote address at the opening plenary session. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

KUCHING: Sarawak is keen to gain new insights from impact assessment and leadership towards resilience and economic sustainability, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The Premier said the International Association for Impact Assessment's (IAIA) annual conference aimed to showcase how impact assessment and leadership could accelerate transformation and sustain resilience in a world that required immediate, meaningful solutions.

"This aligns with Sarawak's post-Covid-19 development strategy (PCDS) 2030, the state government's key strategy to achieve economic prosperity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability by 2030," he said at the opening plenary session of the IAIA conference here on Monday (May 8).

His speech was read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

Abang Johari said building a resilient Sarawak was an ongoing journey involving the combined efforts of the government, local communities and stakeholders.

He said resilience encompassed a robust physical infrastructure as well as an inclusive society.

"This means that the government works closely with our communities and stakeholders to provide all Sarawakians with equal opportunities to participate in the state's overall development and enjoy equitable distribution of wealth through jobs and business opportunities," he said.

Abang Johari also said environmental sustainability was integral to Sarawak's development initiatives.

"The target is to ensure sustainable economic activities by adopting new technologies and innovation, continuing environmentally sound practices such as greening efforts and improving regulatory framework enforcement.

"I am glad that the conference has included sessions to discuss environmental and social sustainability, which will provide new insights into our development initiatives," he said.

Over 600 impact assessment professionals from 79 countries are attending the four-day IAIA conference, which was being held for the first time in Malaysia.

The delegates would discuss how to develop a multi-pronged, multidisciplinary approach to tackling global issues such as climate change, pandemics and humanitarian crises using impact assessment.