KUCHING (Oct 2): A forum entitled ‘The Future Economy of Sarawak’ organised by The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) brought together speakers and members of the public to deliberate on issues shaping the state’s economic direction.
Held on Saturday, the event explored a wide range of topics, including Sarawak’s oil and gas sector, taxation policies, natural resource ownership, and their implications for long-term development.
“One of the main areas of discussion was the ownership of Sarawak’s natural resources, particularly its continental shelves and petroleum reserves, which participants viewed as central to the state’s economic sovereignty,” said TSI in a statement.
The forum also examined taxation policies, including the potential reintroduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Some participants highlighted that GST provides greater transparency in reflecting consumer taxation compared to the existing Sales and Services Tax (SST) system.
At the conclusion of the forum, attendees participated in a poll on three key areas: natural resource ownership, the future of taxation, and the level of autonomy Sarawak should hold over its education system.
According to TSI, the majority of respondents supported recognising Sarawak as the rightful owner of its natural resources, reinstating GST on a non-partisan basis, and granting full autonomy over education.
TSI said the poll results would be conveyed to the state government to reflect the views expressed during the forum.
The organisation added that the forum is part of its continuing efforts to promote informed dialogue and encourage civic participation in shaping Sarawak’s economic and political landscape. -The Borneo Post