Sarawak is preparing to move towards advanced technologies for electricity generation in space as part of its post-infrastructure development agenda, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said research is already being carried out into next-generation energy systems beyond Earth, including space-based solar technologies.
“Today, people are exploring the generation of electricity in outer space without the use of batteries. Research is currently being carried out to produce electricity in space, where sunlight is converted into electrical energy that generates power within satellites in space.
“This is all new. That is why we must prepare for this technology. God willing, Sarawak will be producing the cell that splits sunlight from Bintulu,” he said when officiating at the Sarawak Career and Training (SCaT) Fair at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here.
He said the initiative reflects Sarawak’s intention to move into next-generation and space-related energy technologies as the state transitions beyond its infrastructure development phase.
Earlier, he said Sarawak has largely completed its infrastructure development under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and is now charting a new economic direction.
“…….We have now more or less come to the end of developing infrastructure.
“We have built bridges, we have built roads and we have sufficient renewable energy supply within the context of climate change. We have also expanded water supply systems throughout the state, meaning rural areas are now better connected to urban centres,” he said…..
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s energy transition will continue to expand, with targets of 10 gigawatts by 2030 and 15 gigawatts by 2035, driven by renewable sources including hydro, solar, biomass and emerging biochar technologies.
He said Sarawak is also strengthening regional energy cooperation through the Asean Power Grid initiative, enabling energy sharing with neighbouring regions including Sabah, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei…..
On emerging technologies, Abang Johari said artificial intelligence (AI) is set to reshape economic systems and lead to what he described as a “machine-centred economy”.
He said while AI is increasingly important in managing economic systems, human input remains essential.
“The machine still needs natural intelligence as input. Humans will provide that input, and in return, new jobs will be created.
“In other words, we must move from job seekers to job creators. That is the new economy,” he added.
He said Sarawak must prepare its youth for this transition by strengthening skills in mathematics, physics, chemistry, cyber analytics and other scientific fields.
Abang Johari also said Sarawak is preparing to expand its digital and space ambitions, including plans to launch satellites by 2030 to strengthen data collection and development planning.
He added that Sarawak is increasingly being recognised as an emerging economic cluster in Asean, particularly under low-carbon industrial development frameworks.
“The world is watching us without our knowledge because of our policies, so much so that Sarawak is recognised as an emerging economic cluster, particularly in Bintulu, which has been categorised as Malaysia’s first Transitioning Industrial Cluster (TIC) under the World Economic Forum.
“In other words, our policy direction is sound. The only thing is for us to develop our talent,” he said.
Sarawak’s oil deal has provided an enviable pot of money which appears to have attracted an inexhaustible train of foreign suitors with cutting edge ideas looking for investment.
It would appear that in agreeing to invest in these ‘blue sky’ projects the leaders of Sarawak tell themselves it is they who are the entrepreneurs, whereas the traditional expertise to watch out for in this crony culture is more in the realm of ‘commission’ seeking and percentages for access.
Transparency to counter graft has retreated not improved over the past ‘progressive’ decade. It is no longer possible to scrutinise where the money goes in public contracts and investments, all one gets are wishy washy and apocryphal announcements about how Sarawak is leading the world in space age technology.
So, as space beckons, let us look at the outcome of previous massive investments in Sarawakian technical genius that have left the world’s scientists from Silicon Valley through the EU and China struggling to catch up.
To put it politely, we are still waiting for the upshot of the plans to produce aircraft fuel from seaweed; to move into ocean thermal energy conversion and to become a mass producer of ‘green’ hydrogen for the world’s vehicle fleet (to be transported by fossil fuel guzzling and polluting tankers, unfortunately).
As for the world leading hydrogen bus project that has limped on for 6 years in Kuching, this appears to have come to a grinding halt amidst predictable criticism over the lack of accountability for the millions haemorrhaged from the project.
Further dizzying plans apparently still exist to spearhead major space and aerospace initiatives, including Sarawak’s own space agency that aims to launch a nanosatellite by 2030, and develop Malaysia’s first rocket launch pad.
All this has chased on top of super-destructive, Taib-era megastructure initiatives carried out by China at Sarawak’s expense across its critical river systems, designed with equally ambitious scenarios to supply ‘green’ energy to all its neighbours. Tragically, these projects are now being aggressively revived following abeyance in the wake of problems caused by the initial dams.
It has to be asked, why if the mega-dam programme is due to be so successful is there the need to seek sun energy from space; Sarawak has so much sun anyway what is wrong with solar panels?
Meanwhile, the occasional hospital has been built. References are made to some new roads and water projects, much needed to lift the rural population from abject poverty. However, there seems to be an urge to spacewalk before the population has benefited from basic services or basic education as a result of their good fortune in resources.
Worse, the wanton destruction of those unique resources (Sarawak’s real selling point) continues as the grabs for remaining timber, land and natural products carries on relentlessly despite the cries of the native peoples, such as the Penan who this week called for logging behemoth Samling to halt logging in Magoh and Limbang.
What is the point of touting grandiose vanity projects that profit only foreigners and the well-connected if no benefit goes to ordinary voters. Is it simply to mask the disappearance of all the cash?