At the Public Sector Financial Transformation Conference (PSFTC) 2025 in Kuching on Tuesday 6 August 2025, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg said governments should not rely solely on GDP to measure national prosperity.
“A country can appear prosperous, but its people may still struggle,” he said, citing Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and calling for more equitable economic policies.
Abang Johari pointed to Nordic countries – especially Norway – as examples of nations that have managed natural resource wealth with discipline and long-term planning.
“Norway discovered oil and gas later than Malaysia, but it has successfully improved living standards through careful management,” he said.
Abang Johar noted that Sarawak has created its own sovereign wealth fund and is committed to ensuring economic growth reaches all citizens. A key step, he said, is offering free tertiary education to all Sarawakians from next year.
Source: The Borneo Post
