Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg has just announced that the federal government has given the green light to give 1,000 Approved Permits (APs) to Sarawak to import electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs). Putrajaya has also agreed to provide the state with tax exemption in doing so, reported Malaymail.
This announcement was made by the Sawarak premiere during his officiating at the commencement of the delivery of gas by the Bintulu Additional Gas Facility (BAGSF-2) to a new state-owned methanol plant Petchem Sdn Bhd in Bintulu. Abang Johari also mentioned these incentives are the first to be gifted to the state by the federal government, making Sarawak the first state in Malaysia with the ability to import vehicles on its own.
The APs were given thanks to a briefing given by the state premier to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Federal Cabinet in Kuching a couple of days ago. The state premier also emphasized how crucial petrochemical and power industries are in achieving Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2023). The strategy has been designed with the aim of helping upgrade Sarawak to a developed status.
Ultimately, he is also hoping that the two sectors will help contribute to the creation of 195,000 new jobs in Sarawak. This as a result should help narrow the development gap between the state’s urban and rural areas.
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Thus far, details regarding when the APs will be made available have yet to be announced just yet. The state government has also yet to disclose what type of vehicles will be imported into Sarawak, and whether the vehicles will be state, commercial, or privately owned.
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