Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg

Summary

Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Abang Openg, commonly known as Abang Johari, has served as Premier of Sarawak since January 2017 and is the first person to hold that retitled position following a 2022 constitutional amendment. A PBB member representing the Gedong state seat since 2021, he is also President of PBB and Chairman of the GPS coalition, which he led to a 76-seat supermajority in the 2021 Sarawak state election. His tenure has been defined by efforts to expand Sarawak's fiscal and regulatory autonomy, diversify the state economy into renewable energy and high technology, and negotiate the state's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Biography

Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Abang Openg (born 4 August 1950), commonly known as Abang Johari or Abang Jo, is a Malaysian politician serving as the Premier of Sarawak since January 2017 [1]. He is a member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and has represented the Gedong state constituency in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly since December 2021, having previously held the Satok seat for nine consecutive terms from 1981 to 2021 [1]. He is the youngest son of Abang Openg bin Abang Sapiee, who served as the first Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from 1963 until his death in 1969 [1]. Born in Limbang, Abang Johari received his early education at Merpati Jepang Primary School and later at St Thomas' Anglican Secondary School and St Joseph's Secondary School in Kuching [1]. He went on to earn a Master of Business Management degree from Henley College, Brunel University, United Kingdom [2]. Prior to entering politics, he worked with Malaysia Airlines as an executive officer [1]. His formal political career began in 1977 when he was appointed youth chief of PBB, and in 1981 he won the Satok by-election [1]. He held multiple cabinet positions under Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, including Minister of Industrial Development (1987), Minister of Tourism (2000), and Minister of Housing (2004) [2]. He was sworn in as Sarawak's sixth Chief Minister on 13 January 2017 following the death of Tan Sri Adenan Satem, a position later retitled Premier following a constitutional amendment on 1 March 2022 [1]. He is also President of PBB since 2017 and Chairman of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition since 2018 [1].

Known for

Abang Johari is known as the architect of Sarawak's Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which focuses on economic prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability, including a target of generating 15 gigawatts of green energy by 2035 as part of the state's aspiration to become the 'Battery of Asean' [2]. He has been a driving force in asserting Sarawak's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including actions on oil and gas revenues, the takeover of Bintulu Port, and the establishment of the state's own airline [3]. As GPS chairman, he led the coalition to a supermajority of 76 out of 82 seats in the 2021 Sarawak state election, cementing GPS as Sarawak's dominant political force and positioning it as a kingmaker in federal coalition politics [1].

Political positions

Abang Johari's most consistent political stance is the assertion of Sarawak's rights and autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). He has maintained that Sarawak's oil and gas resources are governed by state laws, including the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958, and has pushed back against what the state government views as federal encroachment [3]. On energy, he has championed a transition from fossil-fuel dependence toward renewable energy — particularly hydropower, hydrogen and solar — and set a 2030 target of 10 gigawatts of power generation with plans to export electricity to Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore [3]. He has advocated for Sarawak to have representation of at least 35 percent of federal parliamentary seats for East Malaysia to safeguard MA63 rights [4]. On education, he announced that Sarawak will become the first Malaysian state to offer free tertiary education to all Sarawakians [2]. On cost of living, the 2025 state budget introduced the Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) programme providing RM250–RM800 annually to low-income Sarawakians, and RM1,200 pocket money for qualifying university students [5]. He has prioritised multiracial and inter-religious harmony as a basis for political stability and development [6].

Education

1. 1962–1967Attended St. Thomas' Anglican Secondary School in Kuching from 1962 to 1967, then transferred to St. Joseph's Secondary School, Kuching.⛓
2. Early 1970sEarned a Master of Business Management degree from Henley College, Brunel University, United Kingdom.⛓

Before politics

1. Late 1960s–Early 1970sWorked as an executive officer with Malaysia Airlines after completing secondary school.⛓

Political career

1. 1977Appointed as Youth Chief of PBB, marking the formal start of his political career.⛓
2. 1981Won the Satok by-election, entering the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for the first time. The following year was appointed principal political secretary to Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.⛓
3. 1984Appointed Assistant Minister of Regional and Community Development.⛓
4. 1987Won the Satok seat in the April 1987 state election and was appointed Minister of Industrial Development.⛓
5. 2000Appointed Minister of Tourism on 15 September 2000.⛓
6. 2004Appointed Minister of Housing following a state cabinet reshuffle on 1 July 2004.⛓
7. 13 January 2017Sworn in as the sixth Chief Minister of Sarawak before Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud at Astana Negeri, succeeding Tan Sri Adenan Satem who died of a heart attack on 11 January 2017.⛓
8. 2017Appointed President of PBB, a position held by convention by the Chief Minister of Sarawak.⛓
9. 12 June 2018Became founding Chairman of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) when PBB and three other former BN component parties in Sarawak left BN to form the state-based coalition.⛓
10. 18 December 2021Won the Gedong state constituency in the 12th Sarawak state election, having moved from his long-held Satok seat. Led GPS to a supermajority of 76 out of 82 seats.⛓
11. 1 March 2022Became the inaugural Premier of Sarawak when the title of Chief Minister was formally changed to Premier following a constitutional amendment gazetted on 1 March 2022.⛓

Election history

• 2021GedongWon⛓
• 2016SatokWon⛓
• 2011SatokWon⛓
• 2006SatokWon⛓
• 2001SatokWon⛓
• 1996SatokWon⛓
• 1991SatokWon⛓
• 1987SatokWon⛓
• 1981Satok (by-election)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentThe Sarawak state government, under Abang Johari's leadership, positions itself as the protector of Sarawak's rights under MA63 and frames its assertive economic policies — including oil and gas taxation, renewable energy development and state ownership of infrastructure — as fulfilling the original compact of Malaysia's formation.⛓
• VerifiedFactsSarawak's state revenue grew from RM5.6 billion in 2017 to RM14.2 billion in 2024 under Abang Johari's administration, and the World Bank recognised Sarawak as a high-income region ahead of its 2030 target. GPS won 76 of 82 seats in the 2021 state election. The title of Chief Minister was changed to Premier by constitutional amendment on 1 March 2022.⛓
• ExpertFree Malaysia Today published an opinion piece in December 2025 noting that under Abang Johari, 'Sarawak has demonstrated rising confidence in asserting its rights over energy resources, education policies, and strategic priorities,' citing it as part of a new federalism dynamic in Malaysia.⛓
• OppositionAt the federal level, GPS — led by Abang Johari — has been described as a kingmaker following the 2022 general election, with its support underpinning PM Anwar Ibrahim's unity government. Within Sarawak, DAP holds only 2 of 82 state seats and functions as the sole significant opposition bloc in the state assembly.⛓