NEWS & UPDATES

KUCHING
28 JUNE 2024

Sarawak Energy is dedicated to nurturing the young talent pool in Sarawak, encompassing both urban and rural areas, through investments in education and capacity building for the next generation, as shared at the Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) 2024 on 26 June at Hikmah Exchange Event Centre, Kuching, Sarawak.

In her opening speech, Sarawak Energy’s Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, Siti Aisah Adenan, spoke about the state power utility’s sustainable hydropower developments, which adhere to the standards and guidelines of the International Commission on Large Dams and the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance’s Hydropower Sustainability Standard for safe and efficient operations.

"We look to maximise the positive impacts of our operations and projects on the surrounding environment and communities while minimising any negative ones, and are fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) – particularly Goals No.7 Affordable and Clean Energy, No. 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, No. 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, No. 5 Gender Equality, No. 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, No. 13 Climate Action, No. 17 Partnership for the Goals, and No. 15 Life on Land,” she said.

Elaborating on Sarawak Energy’s commitment to sustainability, Siti Aisah highlighted the Group’s Tree Planting, Protection, and Habitat Restoration Campaign 2021 to 2030, which aims to combat climate change through nature-based solutions, as well as the organisation’s initiatives to empower local youth, such as the Sarawak Energy Scholarship Programme, bursaries, educational funds for Belaga, Bakun Baleh, and Batang Ai communities, internship placements, the campus ambassador programme and SCIENCE by Sarawak Energy – a programme focused on powering young minds by advancing education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Honourable Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, as well as Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, delivered a keynote address, reaffirming the State’s commitment to sustainability in line with the Paris Agreement with action plans such as developing the Sustainable Sarawak Blueprint, increasing urban green spaces, and reducing carbon emissions, among others.

Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim also shared that youth engagement and advocacy is central to Sarawak’s sustainability efforts hence it is importance to empower the youth to take the lead in shaping the dialogue as well as driving action for a sustainable future.

Also present at the opening ceremony were The Honourable Datuk Snowdan Lanwan, Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak; The Honourable Dato Dennis Ngau, Telang Usan Assemblyman and Chairman for Sarawak Tourism Board; The Felicitous Datu Sherrina Hussani, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts; The Felicitous Morshidi Fredrick, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development; Norhayati Mohd Ismail, Chairman of Sarawak Media Group; and Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Tourism Board.

RAYS 2024 is an inaugural event organised in conjunction with the Rainforest World Music Festival 2024 by the Sarawak Tourism Board to empower young leaders and champion youth and indigenous-led solutions on biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, climate adaptation and sustainable development. Sarawak Energy is one of the sponsors. Themed ‘Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future’, the summit saw a total of about 1000 delegates with eighty percent being youth from across Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Sarawak Energy’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Services, Siti Aisah Adenan delivered an opening address, sharing Sarawak Energy’s community empowerment efforts through educational and sustainable livelihood initiatives.

The Honourable Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, as well as Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, delivered a keynote address.

The opening ceremony of Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) 2024.

Group picture of The Honourable Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah with the speakers of Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) 2024.