KUCHING: Sarawak needs technologists in various fields to support its economic transformation, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
The Premier said Sarawak's economic development was now focused on environmental sustainability and new technologies such as hydrogen energy.
"In order to boost our economy, we will need technologists who are well-versed in the relevant disciplines, including STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects.
"As such, TVET (technical and vocational education and training) will play an important role," he said.
Abang Johari was speaking to reporters after opening the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) TVET conference here on Wednesday (Dec 11).
He said Sarawak was now promoting TVET to encourage students to learn the relevant disciplines for the new economy.
"This will equip them for technology-based jobs in the future. For example, we will need drone operators for the aerospace industry and mechanics to maintain hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles," he said.
In his speech earlier, Abang Johari said Sarawak was exploring hydrogen as the best alternative clean energy to fossil fuel.
He said this included transforming the state's public transport to use the hydrogen-powered autonomous rapid transit (ART) system.
"We are now building the infrastructure for the ART in Kuching. This will be expanded to Bintulu.
"Eventually our entire public transport will be fuelled by hydrogen," he said.
