CHINA is currently Asia’s largest economy, enticing every neighbouring country around her to establish economic ties so as to spur their nations’ growth and development, especially with Chinese investments. Sarawak too has jumped onto the bandwagon and is actively trying to promote sales of tropical fruits, palm oil, fish cultures and tourism ties with the republic. All these promotional activities with China can stimulate the state’s economic development especially in niche areas where we have advantage like large tracts of land.
It should also be noted that the Malaysian government has recently shelved or cancelled a number of large investment deals with the republic after the Pakatan Harapan government took over earlier this year. Most of these mega projects were deemed too costly or not justifiable, hence their termination. For Sarawak, this is a major setback as it means that potential foreign investment - which would have been a boost to the state’s development - is lost.