More than RM100b projects for Sarawak

By : Firdaus Abdullah

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KUCHING: The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) is off to a running start with deals worth more than RM100 billion waiting to be inked.

After Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launches the massive long-term development project at the Bintulu waterfront today, he will witness the signing of 13 agreements and memoranda of understanding.

The MoU between Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) and Tenaga National Berhad (TNB) for the supply and transmission of electricity from hydro and coal-powered plants alone is worth RM50 billion.

The other substantial MoU, valued at RM22 billion between SEB and Sime Darby Bhd, is for the construction of transmission lines, including the dual submarine transmission cables, to link the Bakun Hydroelectric Power Plant to Peninsular Malaysia.

Apart from the two main deals, SEB will also enter into concrete deals worth another RM7.25 billion to supply electricity to the Rio Tinto-Cahya Mata Sarawak aluminium smelter in Similajau and Press Metal Bhd’s aluminium smelter in Mukah.

The Bintulu Development Authority is also expected to sign an MoU with ZincOx Resources Plc to set up a zinc electro-refinery worth RM1.2 billion.

The other MoUs are between parties involved in renewable biofuel, feedstock, fisheries, aquaculture, shipbuilding and human capital training.

Score is the final slice of the government’s long-term plan for holistic development and equal distribution of wealth among Malaysians.

It is part of a comprehensive master plan to improve the quality of life and embrace the challenges of globalisation.

It encompasses a whole range of industries, from downstream oil-based production and aquaculture to world-leading high-tech ventures like state-of-the-art aluminium smelters and specialised glass making.

Abdullah said Score’s advantage was its abundance of land, a huge supply of relatively cheap electricity and water, and a dedicated authority to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan.

It will be managed by the state’s Regional Corridor Development Authority.

Its target by 2030 is to create 1.5 million new jobs and achieve a gross domestic product per capita growth of 5.5 per cent a year.

The greatest challenge will be to attract RM305 billion in investments in the next 20 years.

The corridor stretches 320km along the coast from Tanjung Manis to Similajau, extending into the hinterland.

Both urban and rural growth centres will experience a well-balanced transformation into self-contained modern communities.

Tanjung Manis, the biggest deep-sea fishing port in the country, is undergoing massive expansion.

The Similajau port, with specialised terminals to cater for the heavy industries in the region, is being developed to complement the Bintulu port to fulfil Score’s import and export requirements.

Mukah will also have its own port, catering for the deep-sea and coastal fishing industry, and providing an alternative mode of transportation between Tanjung Manis and Similajau.

Apart from the energy-intensive industries like aluminium, nickel, steel, zinc and glass, Score will also be a hub for marine engineering, shipbuilding and the construction of oil rigs.

Sime Darby, SEB to sign MoU

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Berhad and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) will sign a memorandum of understanding today which will see major progress in the supply and transmission of electricity from the Bakun Dam.

The MoU will be inked as part of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) project, which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will launch in Bintulu today.

The MoU will see the multinational working together with SEB to commission the generating units at Bakun, and develop a transmission line connecting Bakun to the Sarawak grid.

Industry sources said the signing of the MoU will pave the way for detailed negotiations on the sale of electricity generated by the dam to Sarawak.

The Bakun Dam will have the capacity to generate 2,400MW of power, of which 1,600MW will be transmitted to Peninsular Malaysia via underwater cables.

The first cable will be completed in 2013 and the second in 2015.

It is understood that the signing of the MoU will pave the way for Sime Darby to get the green light to transmit power overland in Sarawak, from Bakun to Kampung Pueh.

The submarine cable lines will start from Kampung Pueh across the South China Sea to Johor.

It also leaves open the possibility of purchasing any excess capacity from SEB, with the objective of exporting additional electricity to the peninsula using the transmission link.

Sime Darby is the owner of the Bakun Dam and its transmission works. SEB, which is owned by the Sarawak Government, is responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the state.

Tycoon gets deal to build Mukah airport


http://www.nst.com.my/Monday/National/20080211075127/insidepix1
Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing is the country’s best known airport builder and upgrade contractor


KUCHING: The contract to build the RM700 million airport in Mukah has been awarded to tycoon Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing’s company, Global Upline.

At his Chinese New Year open house on Thursday, Ting said his company would build the “international standard” airport, Sarawak’s second largest, capable of handling Boeing 747s and other wide-bodied aircraft.

Ting, the country’s best known airport builder and upgrade contractor, said the airport would be built near Judan, a few kilometres from the centre of the coastal town.

He would not disclose when work will begin.

Mukah is a gateway to the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is launching today. It is one of two major towns in the corridor.

The oil and gas town of Bintulu is the other, and it has an airport that can handle Boeing 747-sized aircraft.

The RM380 million airport was built by Global Upline under the Government Deferred Payment Scheme, a scheme to kick-start the economy after it was hit by the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s.

Located 20km from Bintulu town, it was completed in 2002, replacing the old airport that was nearer the town.

At present, Mukah has an airstrip that caters to small aircraft like the 19-seater Twin Otters.

The fishing port with a population of about 100,000 has a large coal mine feeding independent power producer Sarawak Energy Bhd’s Mukah power generation plant. Its hinterland has been developed into oil palm plantations.

Other major airport contracts awarded by the Transport Ministry to Global Upline include the upgrading of the Miri, Labuan, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu international airports.
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RM334bil is the cost for developing Sarawak corridor

KUCHING: A whopping RM334bil in capital investment is needed to fully develop the proposed Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in the central region.

The setting up of energy-intensive and other industries would require some RM200bil in funding while some RM67bil would be needed to develop huge energy resources, including the building of hydropower dams and coal-fired power stations.

Another RM61bil will go to fund infrastructure projects, and RM3bil each will be required for human capital development and institutional infrastructure.

These figures are provided in a 126-page book published by the state government to give investors an overview of SCORE in conjunction with its launch by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said SCORE would capitalise on the central region’s abundance of energy resources. A pre-requisite for the development of energy-based industries was to have access to relatively cheaper electricity.

The energy resources identified in the central region include hydropower (28,000MW), coal (1.46bil tonnes) and natural gas (40.8 trillion cu ft).

“Other industries such as timber-based, oil palm and tourism will continue to be aggressively promoted and developed,” he added.

The first energy-intensive project to be implemented in Balingian within the corridor is an aluminium smelter, which is expected to be in production next year. The plant is expected to consume 90MW of power initially, which will increase to 630MW by 2011.

A second and bigger aluminium smelter is expected to begin production in Similajau by late 2010, requiring some 900MW of energy.

Taib, in a separate Chinese New Year message yesterday, said the state government would work hard to attract foreign direct investment, especially in the development of the hydropower projects and coal reserves in the Kapit and Mukah divisions.

SCORE takes off

By JACK WONG

KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Bhd is going ahead with the development of several big hydroelectric dams to power the energy-intensive industries planned for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in the state's central region.

SCORE, the country's fifth and last regional development corridor, was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Bintulu on Monday morning.

Planned for full development over 22 years, SCORE covers 70,709 sq km and stretches along the coast of Tanjung Manis (where an integrated timber complex and deepsea fishing port are located) in Sarikei Division to Similajau in Bintulu Division.

Plans are already underway to develop the Murum dam (990MW), Balleh dam (950MW) and Pelagus dam (770MW), all in the upper reaches of the Rejang River.

These proposed dams are, however, smaller than the federal-funded Bakun dam project (now being built), which could generate up to 2,400MW.

Tycoon gets deal to build Mukah airport


http://www.nst.com.my/Monday/National/20080211075127/insidepix1
Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing is the country’s best known airport builder and upgrade contractor



dia ni lagi...?takde org lain dah?...yes, he may be known for his new kuching airport...but i'll never forget and forgive him for what he has done for Plaza Rakyat!!:bash:

Sarawak corridor draws RM500bil

By JACK WONG, SHARON LING and STEPHEN THEN

SIBU: The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) got off to a great start with some RM500bil worth of private investment committed at its launch in Bintulu yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the proposed investment was made in 24 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) signed during the launch.

The proposed investment has already exceeded the RM334bil that the Sarawak Government said was required to fully develop the regional economic corridor by 2030.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the proposed investment included for the fisheries sector by Australian companies that were not earlier anticipated.

“I am very pleased that on the first day (of the launch of Score), the private sector has already come forward and indicated intention to invest in Sarawak,” Abdullah said after opening the Centennial Hall of SMK St Elizabeth at Jalan Oya here yesterday.

He said the development of oil and gas as well as hydro resources, infrastructure, transport and communications sectors in Sarawak required very big investment, and there were also plans to develop heavy industries.

“The private sector investment is expected to be more than the amount we have indicated in our plans. This augurs well for Sarawak,” he said.

The energy-intensive industries to be set up within the corridor are at least two aluminium smelters.

Sarawak Energy Bhd, Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMS) and Rio Tinto Aluminium Ltd inked a RM5.25bil deal for the supply of 1100MW of energy. Other deals signed included:

·Sarawak Energy and Press Metal Bhd for the supply of 510MW worth RM2.5bil;

·Sarawak Energy and Sime Darby Bhd for 2,400MW from Bakun and undersea transmission line worth RM22.5bil;

·Sarawak Energy and Tenaga Nasional Bhd to analyse energy options, develop coal potentials and infrastructure worth RM50bil;

·Carbon Capital Corp Sdn Bhd and Japan Carbon Mercantile Co Ltd for a biodiesel plant worth RM1bil;

·Konsortium Galdasar Sdn Bhd and Yuh Yow Fisheries Taiwan for a 800ha aquaculture project worth RM100mil;

·Konsortium Galdasar and Shei Chui Oceanic Enterprise Taiwan for shipbuilding worth RM40mil;

·Bintulu Development Authority and Zinc Ox Resources England for zinc electro refinery plant worth US$350mil;

·Sarawak Energy and a consortium of banks for RM3bil to RM20bil in financial deals;

·CMS and Rio Tinto on training for its aluminium smelter;

·CMS and Rio Tinto and Aluminium Pechinery for the supply of technology to Salco aluminium smelter; and

·CMS, MMC Corp Bhd and Pan Kingdom Investment Co for financial deals worth US$1.5bil.

In terms of area of coverage and monetary investment, the Sarawak regional development corridor has topped the other development corridors in the country. A total area of hinterland measuring 70,000 sq km is expected to be developed, affecting more than 600,000 people.

According to the development blueprint yesterday, the core projects would involve the setting up of power generation plants to churn out at least 20,000MW of electricity.

High priority sectors have also been identified for development – petroleum, aluminium, metal production, glass production, tourism, palm oil plantations, livestock, fishing, timber plantations, aquaculture and marine engineering which includes ship-building and ports construction.

Abdullah yesterday allocated an initial sum of RM5bil in federal funds towards the development corridor in Sarawak.

Malaysia launches billion$ Sarawak development plan
Published: 2008/02/11




MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has launched a development project worth nearly US$100 billion to fuel growth in resource-rich Sarawak.

Abdullah said the government would spend an initial RM5 billion (US$1.54 billion) to kickstart the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy, with private investment targeted at RM300 billion (US$93 billion).

The Sarawak plan — the last of five regional economic blueprints being rolled out — focuses on developing the state’s energy resources of hydropower, coal, natural gas and petroleum.

“The development, distribution and consumption of energy is a core element leading to the success of the Sarawak Corridor,” Abdullah said at the launch.

The premier said the project aims to bring economic growth and eradicate poverty in the predominantly rural state by 2030, by creating some 800,000 jobs and luring billons in private investment.

“It’s not going to be less than RM300 billion (ringgit). It’s a huge amount but it involves large developments in various fields ... in Sarawak, which is a very large (state),” he said.

The area earmarked for development is a 320-kilometre stretch along the Borneo coast facing the South China Sea, and covers an area of 70,708 square kilometres — 57 per cent of the state.

Officials say the main engine of growth for the project is the use of hydroelectricity supplied by the Bakun Dam to power various large-scale heavy industries.

Abdullah yesterday witnessed the signing of a RM5.25 billion power-supply deal between Rio Tinto Alcan and Malaysian utility Sarawak Energy Bhd for a planned aluminium smelter on Borneo island.

Rio Tinto and local partner Cahaya Mata Sarawak (CMS) have proposed building a US$2 billion smelter, which would be among the world’s largest.

Sarawak Energy also signed an agreement with Press Metal Bhd. to supply 510 megawatts of electricity to a RM2.5 billion aluminum smelter project that will commence operations in July 2010.

Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad and Sarawak Energy Berhad also inked a deal worth RM22 billion to manage the 2400-megawatt Bakun dam and construct its transmission cables.

The two companies will also undertake a project to lay undersea power cables to transmit electricity from the dam to peninsular Malaysia. - AFP

New Tourism Opportunities Seen Emerging In SCORE

BINTULU, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- New tourism development opportunities are expected to emerge in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) with the creation of hydro power lakes and the opening of the hinterlands.

Based on the book on the overview of SCORE released today, this industry could potentially create 75,000 jobs by 2030 and contribute US$4.8 billion to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The focus of the tourism industry development will be on investments to increase visitor arrivals through the execution of a "complete experience" strategy that involves adventure, cultural, eco-tourism and business.

The strategy also involves focusing investment promotions on new lakes and other suitable key locations, based on a location-specific strategic plan, while maintaining close coordination and collaboration with relevant tourism agencies to accelerate development.

Sarawak tourism is forecast to see 10 million visitors a year by 2030 based on the increasing trend of intra-Asian tourism activities, with investments and visitors numbers driven by low-cost air transport expansion.

With the implementation of the corridor plan, business travel will grow significantly, it adds.

Sarawak Corridor to attract RM334b investments
by Joseph Chin, 12 Feb 2008 11:01 AM
THEEDGEDAILY

BINTULU: The Sarawak Corridor, which was launched yesterday, should attract RM334 billion in investments from now until 2030, with the federal government accounting for 15% of the investments.

According to the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) master plan launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday, the corridor would be developed in the central region — covering 70,700 sq km in the Bintulu, Kapit, Sibu, Mukah and Sarikei divisions.

“So far, the central region’s potential had not been developed due, among others, to its scarce population. With development coming in now, there will be huge economic and social impact,” Abdullah said when launching SCORE at the Bintulu Promenade here.

According to a Bernama report, he said the spillover benefits from the region’s development would be seen in other parts of Sarawak as well.

The Prime Minister also announced a RM5 billion allocation for high impact projects that have been identified under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) for the development of SCORE.

He also witnessed the signing of 13 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the Sarawak government and companies taking part in SCORE.

The MoUs involved the state government, Sarawak Energy Bhd, Cahaya Mata Sarawak Bhd and Rio Tinto Aluminum Ltd for the supply of energy of between 900mw and 1,200mw for an aluminum smelter in Similajau with an investment value of RM5.25 billion.

Abdullah said to catalyse the development of SCORE, three growth centres had been identified — Tanjung Manis, Similajau and Mukah.

Tanjung Manis, a port whose hinterland is resource-rich, will become a manufacturing and small industries centre, and he said: “By 2030 we hope it will become an important regional port city.”

Similajau will be an industrial city underpinning a new industrial centre, housing heavy industries such as oil & gas, aluminum, steel and silica, with a deepwater port set to be built there.

Mukah will be an education hub and a “Smart City,” drawing not only academic and research institutions but also skills training centres.

“As high as the hornbill soars, juat as high are the hopes of the Sarawak people on the success of this Corridor, and they are ready to accept development to improve their quality of life,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that with the full implementation of the SCORE master plan by 2030, Sarawak would see its gross domestic product (GDP) growing from RM23 billion now to RM118 billion, with annual GDP growth pace rising to 7% from 5% now.

In this period, 1.6 million high-value job opportunities will be created throughout Sarawak, about half of them in industries emerging in SCORE, he added.

By 2010, according to Abdullah, hardcore poverty in Sarawak will be wiped out while poverty would be reduced to less than 1% by 2030 from 7.5% of the population now.

Abdullah said he has directed that a “green development framework” study be undertaken to ensure that SCORE’s development is environmentally friendly.

“This is to ensure that our energy resources will be developed in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner,” he stressed.

Energy resources, especially hydro power of 20,000mw, coal deposits of 1.46 billiion metric tonnes and natural gas deposits of 40.9 trillion cu ft, are readily available in the SCORE region.

Recoda, the Regional Corridor Development Authority, has been set up as a one-stop agency to facilitate all investment activities in SCORE as well as drive the development of the central region and the whole state towards fully developed status by 2020.

This is the fifth development corridor that Abdullah has launched to ensure balanced development throughout the country. The others are the Iskandar Development Region in the southern tip of the peninsula, the Northern Corridor Economic Region, the East Coast Economic Region and the Sabah Development Corridor.

Naim studying foreign JV offers

By JACK WONG

KUCHING: Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd is evaluating several joint venture offers for property developments or construction projects overseas.

Deputy managing director Dr Sharifuddin Wahab said one proposal was from the government of a northern African nation for a RM300mil walk-up apartment project.

“We are in discussion on this apartment project and expect a decision towards the third-quarter this year,” he told StarBiz yesterday.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/2/13/business/b_score.jpg
Also being evaluated are proposals from Middle East investors for joint-venture projects in the construction of new townships and other types of properties.

The joint-venture proposals also extend to Naim’s project management expertise.

Sharifuddin said the firm was studying the offers as it was keen to spread its wings abroad.

Naim’s core businesses are in property development and construction. The bumiputra-owned company has carved a name in developing new townships and commercial centres in Miri, Samarahan and Kuching. It has built some 12,000 houses and shophouses.

Sharifuddin said Naim was aggressively looking to expand its land-bank of over 1,200ha, particularly in Sibu, Sarikei and Bintulu, which are within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score).

Score, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday, stretches 320km along the coast of Tanjung Manis (Sarikei Division) to Similajau (Bintulu Division) in central Sarawak.

The Sarawak government expects some 1.5 million new jobs to be created by high-impact industries and other sectors when Score is fully developed by 2030.

“With the influx of manpower into the regional corridor, there is a crucial need for more housing,'' Sharifuddin said.

He did not rule out Naim acquiring land outside Sarawak for future residential or commercial development.

Sharifuddin said the RM500mil raised from the sale of Islamic bonds in December gave Naim the financial resources to purchase land.

He said the proceeds would also be used as working capital for several major infrastructure projects that Naim had secured.

The projects include the RM1.3bil Kuching/Matang flood mitigation project, RM300mil Bengoh hydro dam project near Kuching, and the RM188mil upgrading of the Sibu-Julau road.

“The environmental impact assessment study of the flood mitigation project is under way. We will start work this year. The project will take five years to complete,” Sharifuddin said.

He said Naim was now building an access road (with two bridges) to the Bengoh dam site, and the construction of the dam proper would start next year.

The upgrading work on the Sibu-Julau road is under way.

wow..so many news about the score..

Carbon Capital Corp, Japan firm to invest RM2b in SCORE

by Ellina Badri
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


PETALING JAYA: Clean development mechanism (CDM) services provider, Carbon Capital Corporation Sdn Bhd is teaming up with Japan Carbon Mercantile Co Ltd (JCM) to undertake renewable energy projects worth RM2 billion.

Carbon Capital group managing director, William Kho said the two-phase project was part of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) initiative. The parties would jointly fund the project on 51:49 basis, he told The Edge Financial Daily.

“We are targeting to kick off the first phase in the middle of this year and are now negotiating with the state government for the land for the project,” Kho said.

On Monday, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Kuching for phase one of their programme which would require US$300 million or about RM1 billion, and be developed over five years.

The projects included developing a multi-feedstock biodiesel plant with an annual capacity of about 240,000 tonnes a year, and bulking facilities in Tanjung Manis, Sarawak.

The MoU would also see the JV developing 100,000 ha of jatropha and oil palm plantations, and potential biogas or biomass renewable energy projects under CDM programmes in Sarawak.

The second phase would involve increasing the capacity of the biodiesel plants to 500,000 tonnes a year and the development of another 100,000 ha of jatropha and oil palm plantations. This would require another RM1 billion investment.

Kho said the project was expected to create export revenue of more than RM800 million annually, as all the renewable energy produced would be exported to Japan. In the second phase, Carbon Capital would consider selling the biodiesel, biogas and biomass products to the local market.

He said the jatropha and oil palm plantations would mitigate the effect of rising crude palm oil prices, as Carbon Capital and its Japanese counterpart would not have to rely on third-party supply of feedstock, he added.

The JV would develop alternative biofuel feedstock, such as palm oil, to mitigate investment risks of the jatropha plantation, where the yields and economics were not yet well-established.

CDM is an arrangement under the Kyoto protocol which allows industrialised countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries instead of undertaking expensive emission reductions in their own countries.

Jatropha is a plant that can grow in almost all types of soil, and its oil can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel, while the residue can be processed into biomass to power electricity plants.

The biodiesel plant would be capable of utilising multi-feedstock of crude palm oil (CPO) and/or crude jatropha oil, and was designed to take into account future expansion of the production of other biofuels.

interesting name.... "Corridor of Renewable Energy"...

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20080407/tbs-score-benefits-ceeeaba.html
SCORE TO BRING TREMENDOUS BENEFITS TO SARAWAK

Bernama - Tuesday, April 8

SIBU, April 7 (Bernama) -- Sarawak can reap tremendous benefits when its regional development corridor, the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), is successfully implemented by 2030. State Second Finance Minister Datuk Sri Wong Soon Koh said that for example, its gross domestic product(GDP) has been projected to increase five-fold to RM118 billion in 2030 from RM23 billion in 2006. Speaking to newsmen before launching a seven-day exhibition on SCORE at the Sibu Gateway here today, he noted that its per capita income has similarly been projected to increase to RM84,077 from RM23,193 during the same period. SCORE, one of the five regional development corridors launched throughout Malaysia, is a major initiative to transform Sarawak into a developed state by 2020. Encompassing 70,709 sq km and with a population of 607,800 people, SCORE stretches for 320 km along the coast from Similajau in Bintulu to Tanjung Manis in Mukah and extending into the surrounding areas and the hinterland. "The number of jobs to be created will also increase by 1.6 million, from 900,000 in 2006 to 2.5 million in 2030. "For these reasons, every Sarawakian should be well informed about SCORE and the many jobs and business opportunities it will generate. They should prepare themselves to exploit them," said Wong. He pointed out that foreigners will be especially attracted to invest because of SCORE's renewable energy base and concept. The core of SCORE is the energy resources, particularly hydropower (28,000 MW), coal (1.46 billion tonnes) and natural gas (40.9 trillion sq cu ft) within the Central Region of Sarawak. Pointing to the 10 industries that have been identified as priority sectors in SCORE, Wong said these will give the greatest economic impact to the state. The industries are oil-based, aluminium, steel, glass, tourism, palm oil, timber-based, livestock, aquaculture and shipbuilding & shiprepair. Apart from economic growth, Wong said, the people will witness rapid development in the provision of infrastructure, utilities and social amenities in the SCORE area. "I am confident that the living standard of all the people including those in the hinterland and rural areas of the state will be greatly uplifted by then," he added. -- BERNAMA ESS MAD SIV

JAPAN & ITALIAN UNDERSEA CABLE MANUFACTURERS PLAN TO SET UP PLANT IN SARAWAK

Bernama - 37 minutes ago

PUTRAJAYA, April 14 (Bernama) -- A joint venture between Japanese and Italian undersea cable manufacturers plans to set up a plant in Sarawak to cater for the Middle East and regional markets, Energy, Water & Telecommunication Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said today. He did not name them but said details are being worked out after which Cabinet approval will be sought. Speaking to reporters after his ministry's Monthly Gathering & Excellence Awards presentation here, Shaziman was responding to a question on whether the government has appointed the company to undertake the project to lay a 700 km long submarine cable to transmit electricity from the Bakun Hydro Electric project in Sarawak to the peninsula. According to him, there are not many players in this particular industry but these two companies have shown interest in the project. He however stressed that the joint venture's involvement is up to Sime Darby and Tenaga Nasional to decide on as they are entrusted with the Bakun and electricity transfer projects. "It is their call. But what I am saying is that there are not many manufacturers in this particular area, manufacturing submarine cables with high capacity," he explained. Shaziman felt that it would be an advantage for the joint venture to set up the plant in the country as it could then participate in the Bakun project as well as market its product to the region. According to him, the Bakun project is more than 70 percent completed and is expected to be ready by 2009 or 2010 to transfer power to the peninsula. Sime Darby Bhd’s unit, Sime Darby Power Bhd (SDP), which is building the multi-billion-ringgit Bakun Dam-Peninsular Malaysia Transmission System, including the 700 km-long submarine cables, is reported to have called for pre-qualification tenders. The pre-qualification is for the design, manufacture, testing, delivery, installation and commissioning for the high voltage direct current (HVDC) link between Bakun dam’s power plant and the peninsula. -- BERNAMA TNS SIV

S’wak suitable as the country’s rice bowl


KUCHING: The Federal Government's decision to develop Sarawak as the national rice bowl is most appropriate as the state has abundant land suitable for the crop, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng said.

In line with the decision, he said that Sarawak must double efforts to develop agriculture into a modern and commercial sector.

“Ample food is crucial to meet the people's basic needs and ensure continued stability. Thus, we must be prepared to face a global food crisis,” he said at the State Legislative Assembly recently.

On Monday, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said that three areas, namely Tulai in Bintangor, Mukah and Sri Aman had been identified to start largescale padi cultivation.

Sarawak, where 58,000ha had been identified as suitable for commercial padi planting, would receive an allocation of RM50mil from the Federal Government to start the project immediately, he said.

Abang Muhammad Salahuddin said he was impressed by the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) development plan, one of five regional development corridors launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Bintulu on Feb 11.

He said the region had vast natural resources which had not been fully tapped, such as hydro, coal and spacious land, and the approach taken by the state to develop and offer energy at a competitive rate was most appropriate because the increase in fuel prices in the world market had prompted the global industry to look for cheaper alternative energy resources.

SCORE is expected to create 2.5 million job opportunities by the year 2030 and raise per capita income in the state to RM84,077 in 2030 compared the current RM23,193. — Bernama

SCORE seems to mean 'flood Borneo for dams'.

Czech Industrialists Keen On Joint Ventures In SCORE

KUCHING, May 12 (Bernama) -- Industrialists from the Czech Republic are keen to embark on joint ventures with local investors, particularly in high-tech agriculture and energy-intensive industries being implemented in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said Monday.

Dr Chan, who is also State Industrial Development Minister and Modernisation of Agriculture Minister, said Czech companies were interested to invest in the country's largest development corridor because of the vast energy resources that Sarawak could provide for them.

"As far as agriculture is concerned, they would like to see whether they can embark on joint ventures, which involves high-tech agricultural expertise in certain fields, including fisheries," he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from a visiting Czech delegation, led by the Czech Republic ambassador to Malaysia, Dana Hunatova, at his office in Petra Jaya here.

The 13-member delegation also included the Czech Committee on National Economy, Agriculture and Transport chairman, Ivan Adamec, as well as delegates from engineering, mining technology, air traffic control and energy production equipment companies.

"Following their visit to Sarawak, the Czechs will let their industrialists know on about the possibilities, including in the energy-intensive industries such as high quality glass and crystal production, of which they have the expertise," Dr Chan said, adding that the proposed bilateral cooperation would be followed up with further discussions.

At present, Sarawak has a hydro power potential of 20,000 megawatts (MW), including those sourced from the 2,400MW Bakun hydro-electric project by 2010 while its coal-generated power is expected to increase to 480MW by next year from 210MW, with a major portion to be used by heavy industries, especially aluminium smelters in Bintulu.

According to the SCORE masterplan, the 70,700-square kilometre corridor, which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Bintulu last February, should see investments amounting to RM334 billion, with the federal government accounting for 15 percent, from now until 2030.

Dr Chan said the state government was also seriously looking into the possibility of local students pursuing their tertiary education, especially in agriculture, business and engineering courses in the Czech Republic.

He said Sarawakians were offered educational facilities in the republic, which has three world-class universities, including in Prague, with courses being conducted in English.

On trade between Sarawak and the Czech Republic, Dr Chan said it was in the republic's favour at present, with a lot of orders for machinery and medical equipment.

Sarawak hoped to reverse the trend by exporting agricultural products to the republic in future, he said.

-- BERNAMA

New roads to link hydro dams in Sarawak
Wednesday May 14, 2008 MYT 12:26:32 PM
By JACK WONG
TheStar

KUCHING: Sarawak will build some 220km of new road to link to the sites of four major hydroelectric dam projects earmarked for development.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said the Federal Government had approved these road projects within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy (SCORE).

''These proposed road projects will provide access to the dam sites to enable the hydroelectric power to be tapped and transmitted to the country,'' he told the state assembly on Wednesday.

Jabu, also state Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister, said the four proposed dams were Murum (900MW) and Baleh (1,400MW) in Kapit Division, Baram (1,000MW) and Limbang (capacity not stated) in northern Sarawak.

He said the proposed 62km access road project to the Murum dam site had been given priority as the proposed dam was targeted to be operational in 2013.

Tenders for the Murum dam project will be called shortly.

Jabu said the proposed access road to the Baram dam site would be 64km long while that of Baleh and Limbang dam sites 73km and 19km respectively.

He said the Federal Government had also approved the construction of a proposed 151km access road to Ng Merit coal mine area in Kapit Division.

''The proposed road would provide a transportation line to enable the coal extracted to be transported out via Tatau/Sangan Road or via river through Batsang Tulie, Kapit.''

He said another 64km road would be built in Kapit Division to enable the development of a proposed rural growth centre.

''The implementation of these six road projects would also form a road network linking many longhouses and village settlements, schools and clinics in the interior areas,'' he added.

Jabu said the completion of these roads would enable land to be opened up for development to improve the livelihood of the local villagers.

He said the proposed implementation of several bridge projects in the coastal areas would be delayed to allow more funds to be channelled to the road projects.

TA Ann to capitalise on Sarawak corridor
Published: 2008/05/27




TA Ann Holdings hopes to capitalise on opportunities in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Areas (SCORE) areas, executive chairman Datuk Abdul Hamed Sepawi said yesterday.

"As a matter of fact, most of our palm oil plantations and reforestation plantations are in the SCORE areas,” he told reporters after chairing the annual general meeting of the country’s largest integrated timber group.

SCORE, which is Sarawak’s regional development corridor, covers an area of 70,700 square kilometres in Bintulu, Mukah, Sarikei, Sibu and Kapit, which is about 57 per cent of the state’s total land mass.

It was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in early February this year.


Hamed said for the 2008 financial year, Ta Ann expects to carry out more expansion, improvements and acquisition of the latest processing facilities to add more values to its products.

"In our reforestation operation, we are looking into planting 5,000 hectares this year, mainly in the Rejang-Ngemah (Sibu Division) area to bring up our total hectarage to 25,000 hectares,” he said.

"For oil palm, we have planted about 18,000 hectares. We hope to achieve a planting rate of 5,000 hectares per year from now so that by 2015 we would have planted almost 55,000 hectares.”

Hamed said the group also hoped to upgrade the processing capacity of its existing crude palm oil (CPO) mills from 30 tonnes per hour to 60 tonnes by year-end as it now has almost 7,000 hectares of matured areas.

A budget of RM115 million had been allocated this year for oil palm development, he said.

On foreign investments, Hamed said the group’s first plywood mill in Yangzhou in China’s Jiangzu Province was expected to deliver its first shipment of container floor by end of this year.

The wholly owned US$15 million mill with a capacity of 50,000 cubic metres is expected to be commissioned in September this year.

"There is a very big and growing market in China and the mill is to satisfy the demand,” he said, adding that its construction had started last month.

On the group’s two plywood mills in Australia, Hamed said construction of the second mill had started in Smithton, northwest of Tasmania.

"This second rotary peeled veneer mill will give us another annual 150,000 cubic metres of eucalyptus logs,” he said.

"Our first mill in Huon, also in Tasmania, is giving us a similar 150,000 cubic metres for production of the environmentally friendly resource, which we will export to feed our mills in Sibu here and in China later.”

He added that the Huon mill had begun operations in November last year and sent out its fourth shipment this month.

On the group’s RM36 million biomass power plant, Hamed said it would be comissioned by end of this month. The plant is capable of generating about 11 megawatts per hour, which will more than sufficient to power the group’s sawmills in Sungai Bidut here, he said.

For its financial year ending Dec 31, 2007, Ta Ann’s revenue increased by six per cent to RM672.99 million from RM636.96 million previously.

Pre-tax profit was RM120.24 million while net profit stood at RM95.43 million. This translated to earnings per share of 45 sen. — Bernama

RM300b worth of SCORE projects confirmed
By STEPHEN THEN


MIRI: Some RM300bil worth of projects from foreign and local investors have already been confirmed for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), less than four months after its official launching.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the state’s offer of cheap and abundant electricity and water, vast land and a highly trainable workforce had attracted the attention of "mega consortiums."

“Sarawak has a huge advantage compared to other parts of the country and these have given us the edge as far as attracting investments are concerned.

“Industrialists look for cheap and abundant supply of energy and water, availability of land and a reliable skilled and semi-skilled workforce, and abundant labour.

“Sarawak has managed to offer all of these. We are not competing with other development corridors in the country because ours is more focussed on energy-intensive industries.

“The information I have received is that we already have RM300bil worth of investments pledged. However, they have not signed the contracts yet,” he said on Tuesday.

SCORE, which stretches 320km from Bintulu to Mukah, was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a few days before the general elections in March.

During the launch, the Prime Minister said that SCORE would eventually bring in up to RM500bil worth of investments and create some 1.6 million jobs over a 30-year period.

On Tuesday Dr Chan, who is state Industrial Development Minister and also Agriculture Modernisation Minister, said among the multibillion-ringgit projects were a crystal-wafer manufacturing plant and those involved in steel and aluminium, and paper and pulp mills.

Sarawak corridor scores with big pledges


MIRI: Some RM300bil worth of projects from foreign and local investors have already been confirmed for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), less than four months after its official launching.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the state’s offer of cheap and abundant electricity and water, vast land and a highly-trainable workforce have attracted the attention of mega consortiums.

“Sarawak has a huge advantage compared to other states,” he said.

“Industrialists look for cheap and abundant supply of energy and water, availability of land and a reliable skilled and semi-skilled workforce and abundant labour.

“Sarawak offers all of these. We are not competing with other development corridors because ours is more focused on energy-intensive industries.

“The information I have received is that we already have RM300bil worth of investments pledged. However, they have not signed the contracts yet,” he said yesterday.

Dr Chan, who is state Industrial Development Minister and also Agriculture Modernisation Minister, said that among the multi-billion ringgit projects were a crystal-wafer manufacturing plant and those involved in steel and aluminium besides paper and pulp mills.

The Prime Minister launched SCORE, which stretches 320km from Bintulu to Mukah, a few days before the general election in March.

During the launch, the Prime Minister said SCORE would eventually bring in up to RM500bil worth of investments and create some 1.6 million jobs over a 30-year period.

Tenaga can lay cables for Bakun project: Minister
Published: 2008/06/26


TNB can request to manage the project, says Second Finance Minister, after Sime Darby's rejection to take a stake in the undersea cable project

TENAGA Nasional Bhd can take up the role of laying the cables from the Bakun hydroelectric power project in Sarawak to Peninsula Malaysia if it wants to, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, said today.

“TNB can request to manage the project, We don’t have any obstacles (but) whether or not the government will approve it, that’s another question,” he said.

“The laying of the cables is important,” he said when asked by reporters if TNB can take up the stake or lay the cables after officiating a business leaders’ forum.

He said the government feels that laying of the underground cables is crucial to optimise hydro power usage and that the government will discuss with TNB and relevant parties to take follow-up action to find alternative ways.



Asked if this was regarding taking up the stake or laying of the cables, he said: “No, its because TNB will be the one using the energy.”

To a question whether the project will be offered to foreign companies, he said: "We have not made a decision yet at the moment, we feel that it would be better for it to be given to local firms (but) we have not closed that option.”

Asked on the operations of the Bakun dam, he said: “That is not an issue as it will be owned by the government and it could continue to so (but) what is important are the underground cables.”

As for the cost of the project reportedly at RM9-10 billion, he said: “We have to make sure costs do not increase significantly. Price increases have to be reasonable, we don’t want any suppliers to quote too high a price and we have to be careful."

He said the government will take action to ensure that prices are fair and reasonable.

As to whether the project could be delayed if the price was too high, he declined to answer, saying it was a policy decision. — Bernama

Sime Darby pulls out of Bakun project
26-06-2008:
THEEDGEDAILY

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd has pulled out of the Bakun hydroelectric project, saying that the project economics do not fit in with the group’s business strategy.

Sime Darby said that it has already informed the government that it had decided not to take up the equity interest in Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd (SHSB) nor to participate in the development of the High Voltage Direct Current transmission link (HVDC Link) to supply electricity from the Bakun project in Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia.

“Our board is of the view that the project economics do not fit in with our business strategy. We are withdrawing our proposal to take up an equity interest in the project but will continue in our role as a contractor to complete the construction of the dam,” said its president and group chief executive Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid.

He said the decision was taken after a thorough review of the project.

Meanwhile, Bernama cited the Ministry of Finance as saying in a separate statement that the government will take an alternative measure to continue with its project to supply electricity to the peninsula.

“Considering that Malaysia is still facing global challenges where the price of fuel has continued to go up and its supply remaining uncertain, the government will continue with its project to supply electricity from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia. This is in the interest of the country, especially the assured supply of electricity,” the ministry said.

In November 2007, Sime Darby received letters of intent from the Ministry of Finance and the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department advising that the government had given an in-principle agreement for Sime Darby to hold a majority stake in SHSB, the owner of the Bakun Dam, and the company developing the HVDC Link (Trans Co).

The letters of intent allowed Sime Darby to begin detailed discussions on the cost of the undersea cable project as well as outline tariff proposals to Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

Sime Darby was supposed to hold a 60% stake in SHSB with Tenaga and the Sarawak state government holding 20% each. In Trans Co, Sime was also supposed to hold 60%, Tenaga 20% and Ministry of Finance, 20%.

The cable project would have involved laying two 700km submarine cables from Sarawak to Johor. The first cable was expected to have been ready for transmission by 2013 and the second by 2015.


The Bakun Hydroelectric Project is located in Sarawak, Malaysia on the Balui River. As part of the project, the tallest concrete-faced rockfill dam in the world would be built. This would also be the largest dam in Asia outside of China. It is expected to generate 2,400 megawatts (MW) of electricity once completed.

The purpose for the dam was to meet growing demand for electricity. However, most of this demand said to lie in Peninsular Malaysia and not East Malaysia, where the dam is located. Even in Peninsular Malaysia, however, there is an over-supply of electricity, with Tenaga Nasional Berhad being locked into unfavourable purchasing agreements with Independent Power Producers. The original idea was to have 30% of the generated capacity consumed in East Malaysia and the rest sent to Peninsular Malaysia. This plan envisioned 730 km of overhead HVDC transmission lines in East Malaysia, 670 km of undersea HVDC cable and 300 km of HVDC transmission line in Peninsular Malaysia.

Future plans for the dam include connecting it to an envisioned Trans-Borneo Power Grid Interconnection, which would be a grid to supply power to Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, and Kalimantan (Indonesia). There have been mentions of this grid made within ASEAN meetings but no actions have been taken by any party.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sarawak To Submit List Of Rural Projects To Federal Govt
July 06, 2008 17:18 PM

KUCHING, July 6 (Bernama) -- Sarawak will prepare a comprehensive list of various rural projects that require allocation from the federal government for implementation during the mid-term review of the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) until the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said the comprehensive list contained various data gathered by the residents' and district offices from all the 11 divisions in Sarawak.

"The comprehensive data needs to be handed over to the Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development on July 11," he told reporters after chairing a meeting with residents, deputy residents and district officers, here today.

Jabu, who is also the Sarawak Minister of Rural Development, said among the projects that were given priority were the construction of village roads, rural water supply, rural agricultural roads, and rural electricity supply.

He said the comprehensive list included projects that had already been proposed for implementation but had to be shelved due to the lack of allocation.

-- BERNAMA

First railway project for Sarawak


BINTULU: Sarawak will embark on its first-ever railway project to provide a cheaper form of travel for the people and meet the transportation demands of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said a railway system was the most viable and cheapest form of transportation for people and goods.

“This will be the first railway in Sarawak. The main area involved will span Similajau in Bintulu Division and Tanjung Manis in Mukah division. That area comprises 57% of Sarawak.

“The rail project will be a viable alternative transportation in view of the constantly rising cost of fuel and other costs.

“The SCORE project will bring tremendous benefits and opportunities, not only in terms of industries, but also other spin-offs for the people,” he said at the Conference of District Officers and Residents here.

Taib said the Government would be spending some RM67bil to develop basic infrastructure needed for SCORE to proceed.

“We have now obtained up to RM300bil in investment pledges. The majority will be from the private sectors,” he said.

Taib said the SCORE project would also see the development of the coal industry, which Sarawak has more than one billion tonnes in reserves.

“The Federal Government has already allocated RM3bil to kickstart SCORE,” he said.

Railway for SCORE
By Patrick Joseph

State’s first train in modern era to run in central region, says Taib

BINTULU: Sarawak is to build railway in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) to facilitate development in the growth area, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said here yesterday.

He said rail transportation would be a cheaper alternative compared with cargo trucks that were presently used.

Opening the Residents and District Officers’ Conference, the Chief Minister said logistics development in the corridor which stretched for 320km from Similajau in Bintulu Division to Tanjong Manis in Mukah Division needed to look at, among other things, the rising price of fuel as SCORE was a mammoth development plan.

Taib, however, did not indicate the cost of the railway project but said its development would go beyond 2020.

The chief minister said SCORE, which was launched by the prime minister in February this year, was to speed up the development of the state’s central region.

According to him, the central region was comparatively lagging behind the northern and southern regions.

Saying that SCORE would be the final phase for the completion of the state’s development, Taib said the corridor was expected to attract about RM300 billion worth of investments in the next three decades.

Of the amount, he said, at least RM230 billion would come from the private sector.

He also said many of the workers and entrepreneurs from the central region had been moving to other places in the state like Kuching or Miri in search of business and employment opportunities, adding that this was a loss to the region.

Taib said the potential for development in the central region were enormous and they included projects relating to aluminium, coal, paper and pulp and oil and gas.

He said oil, agriculture and fishing industries in the region were already bearing fruits and more needed to be done to further expand the industries and the development of corridor would augur well.

Mukah for instance, according to Taib, had a huge reserve of coal that amounted to billions of tonnes and what was needed was good infrastructure and related efforts to extract it.

He also told the divisional residents and district officers in the state to work together in shaping the minds of the people in their area of jurisdiction to prepare them to get the maximum benefits from the development of SCORE.

Touching on education, Taib reminded parents to ensure their children received the right kind of education, possessed the right skills and talents to meet the future demands and challenges.

About 300 people are attending the three-day conference themed ‘Sarawak Corridor Development: Reshaping Human Talents for the Future’ which started Monday.

Housing Minister Dato Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Michael Manyin were among those present during the opening ceremony.

News from Borneo Post
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=38089

Sarawak to build railway network
By STEPHEN THEN

BINTULU: Sarawak is to embark on a pioneer project to build a railway network, the first ever railway project in this vast state.

The railway project will have a dual purpose - to provide a relatively cheaper yet reliable form of mass transportation for the people, and to facilitate the movement of raw materials and goods for the construction of the projects that will be carried out in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on Tuesday said a railway system is the most viable and cheapest form of fast transportation for massive bulk of both goods and people.

''This will be the first railway in Sarawak. The main area involved will span the (320km) stretch between Similajau in Bintulu Division and Tanjung Manis in Mukah division. That area comprises 57% of Sarawak.

''The rail project will be a viable alternative of transportation in view of the constantly rising costs of fuel and other costs.

''The SCORE project will bring tremendous benefits and opportunities, not only in terms of industries, but also other spin-offs for the people of the state,'' he said at the state-level Conference of District officers and Residents held in this gas capital of Sarawak.

Taib, who is also the state's 1st Finance Minister and state's 1st Minister for Planning and Resources Management, however, did not disclose the cost of the railway project nor the date for the project to commence.

He said the Government will be spending some RM67bil to develop the basic infrastructure needed for SCORE to proceed.

''We have now obtained up to RM300bil in investment pledges. The majority will be from private sectors,'' he said.

Taib said the SCORE project will also see the development of the coal industry, which Sarawak has more than one billion tonnes in reserve.

He noted that up to 20,000 MWs of power will be developed within the next 30 years and during that period, Sarawak will be able to provide cheap and efficient electricity to the people in the state and country.

A RM1.5bil plant to produce halal food will also be constructed in the region, he added.

''The Federal Government had already allocated RM3bil to the state to kickstart SCORE,'' he said

Spain Mulls Investment Prospects With Malaysian Companies In Score
July 15, 2008 23:45 PM

KUCHING, July 15 (Bernama) -- Spain, a global expert in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, is mulling over investment prospects in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Spanish Embassy in Malaysia, Antonio Garcia said Tuesday.

Spain, the eighth largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) worldwide, has strong expertise in the field of solar and wind power. It also has excellent technology in coal and hydro power - core energy resources found in abundance in the 70,700 square kilometre SCORE.

"We are also interested in joint ventures in the oil and gas sector, information communication technology as well as biotechnology with the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre," Garcia told reporters after a seminar on "Business Opportunities and New Technologies In Spain - The Evolution Of The Spanish Enterprises" here.

The seminar was organised by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), which acts as a catalyst for investments in the state by providing one-stop advice on business opportunities as well as serving as a joint-venture partner in collaboration with the Spanish embassy.

Spanish companies have to date had identified a few potential Score projects. Some are undergoing feasibility studies.

According to Garcia, he was confident that at least five or 10 Spanish business entities would be investing in Sarawak over the next 10 years.

At present 25 Spanish companies have investment ventures in Peninsular Malaysia. This includes Spain's biggest investment in Asia, the RM5 billion stainless steel project in Johor Baharu being developed by Acerinox.

Spain, with a population of 44 million, is also the world's third largest investor. The country is the world's eight largest economy and sixth in the European Union in terms of gross domestic product ( GDP).

On bilateral trade between Spain and Malaysia, Garcia said, the total volume of RM5 billion was in favour of Malaysia with RM3.5 billion worth of exports, including electronics and electrical appliances, rubber, palm oil, textiles and furniture.

Spain's imports, included chemicals, stainless steel, clothing, food, electronics, medical appliances and products as well as automatic components.

-- BERNAMA

World's Third Largest Steel Producer Keen To Invest In Sarawak
July 21, 2008 15:55 PM

KUCHING, July 21 (Bernama) -- South Korea-based Pohang Iron and Steel Company or better known as POSCO, the world's third largest steel producer, is keen on investing in Sarawak in view of the vast economic potential in the state.

South Korea Ambassador to Malaysia Yang Bong Ryull, currently on a two-day visit to the state, said detailed discussion on the investment is expected to be held soon.

"POSCO is showing big interest in Sarawak," he told reporters after attending a briefing by Sarawak Energy Bhd senior officials here Monday.

Apart from POSCO, Yang said, several Korean companies have also showed interest in enhancing their business ties with the public and private sector of Sarawak especially in the energy-related and oil palm industries.

While the Korean community in Sarawak is relatively small with an estimated 300 Koreans in the state including those involved in small businesses and over 100 Korean students studying here, Yang said he believed that the potential was high for South Korea and Sarawak to look into areas that will bring mutual benefits.

For example, tourism can be explored further as last year alone a total of 203,000 Koreans visited Malaysia and Sarawak could play a role in wooing more Korean tourists to the state, he added.

-- BERNAMA

Sarawak to build 12 dams to meet future power needs
By TEH ENG HOCK and ROYCE CHEAH



http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/7/23/nation/n_01sarawakdams.jpg

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak plans to build 12 hydroelectric dams to meet its future industrialisation needs.

The move has got environmentalists up in arms, questioning the need for the dams and the planned development of the state. They also suggested that Sarawak's national park may be threatened.

However, Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said the dams were necessary to meet energy demands.



They will be located at Ulu Air, Metjawah, Belaga, Baleh, Belepeh, Lawas, Tutoh, Limbang, Baram, Murum and Linau rivers. The plan will also see an extension to the Batang Ai dam.

All these are in addition to the 2,400MW Bakun dam and will push the total generating capacity in the state to 7,000MW by 2020, an increase of more than 600% from the current capacity.

The plans were in a presentation entitled Chinese Power Plants in Malaysia – Present and Future Development in October last year at the China-Asean Power Cooperation and Development Forum in Nanning, China.

The 48-slide presentation has been made available on the Internet.

Chinese companies were expected to design, build and commission the dams, the presentation said.

The Murum Dam project is scheduled to begin this year with a memorandum of understanding already signed between the Sarawak Energy Board and China Three Gorges Project Corporation.

It also said a detailed study on the Batang Ai extension was already under way while a feasibility study had commenced at Limbang and a pre-feasibility study had started at Baram.

Currently, Sarawak’s energy output is 933MW and it does not need any more energy.

However, there are plans to expand the aluminium-smelting industry in the state which will need the planned output. Furthermore, the Bakun dam’s 2,400MW was originally meant for peninsular Malaysia.

According to media reports, the Sarawak Government has already approved the building of an aluminium smelter by local company Press Metal Bhd.

Others which have shown interest includes China’s Luneng Group, Smelter Asia Sdn Bhd, Alcon Inc, Mitsubishi Corp, BHP Billiton Ltd and Australia’s Rio Tinto.

Centre for Environmental Technology and Development Malaysia chairman Gurmit Singh expressed concerns over the plan.

He said the proposal to build the dams and then look for energy-guzzling industries to use the energy was wrong.

He questioned how the building of the dams were related to the national energy policy.

“This is also a typical example of the ‘not in my backyard’ mentality where a country puts its polluting industries in other countries,” he said.

Salang said the 12 dams were necessary as consumption was projected to increase with the development of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.

He said the dams would only be approved if they passed their environmental impact assessment.

He added that he did not expect the projects to materialise any time soon although the plan was to complete all dams by 2020.

Sarawak’s 12 dam projects exempted due to Court of Appeal ruling
Monday July 28, 2008
By ROYCE CHEAH
TheStar

PETALING JAYA: The construction of 12 dams in Sarawak does not need to undergo Federal environment impact assessment (EIA) requirements due to a Court of Appeal ruling 11 years ago.

The ruling, pertaining to the Bakun dam project, said the Sarawak Government had jurisdiction over land matters and hence the Environmental Quality Act did not apply in the state.

Centre for Environmental Technology and Development Malaysia chairman Gurmit Singh said this meant the dam projects would follow the state’s environment regulations and could bypass federal laws.

“According to the state’s regulations, EIAs on such projects do not need to be scrutinised by the public,” he pointed out.

Gurmit said that if NGOs or affected stakeholders were to ask for EIAs under such circumstances, it would be pointless.

“It is just like a window dressing. How could we help without knowing what is inside or what the recommendations are?” he asked.

Universiti Malaya Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity Law director Prof Gurdial Singh Nijar, who fought the Bakun case on behalf of the indigenous people, said the ruling had indeed set a precedent.

“What this means is that it is a permissible legal route - the state government can take the same route in executing the projects.”

Prof Gurdial and Gurmit were both responding to the plan to build 12 hydroelectric dams in Sarawak that will push the total generating capacity in the state to 7,000MW by 2020 – an increase of 600% from the current capacity.

The dams will be located at Ulu Air, Metjawah, Belaga, Baleh, Belepeh, Lawas, Tutoh, Limbang, Baram, Murum and Linau rivers. The plan will also see an extension to the Batang Ai dam.

Gurmit added that apart from the legislation problem, the concept of EIAs as a whole needed to be re-looked to ensure that it was done independently.

RM800m for rural power, water in Sarawak


KUCHING: Sarawak will use the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) initial allocation of RM800mil for electricity and water supply projects in rural areas.

Public Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said, of the amount, RM400mil was for projects under the Rural Electricity Scheme while the other RM400mil was for projects to supply clean water to 5,000 villages and longhouses in remote areas.

“The geographical factor and location of the longhouses and villages prompted the Government to supply alternative sources of electricity and water to the areas.

“Alternative electricity and water projects are more costly as they involve sophisticated technologies,” he said at the launch of the ministry's website and the new logo here recently.

Sarawak plans to supply clean water to over 70% and electricity to 85% of rural areas by 2010.

Presently, almost all major towns in Sarawak enjoy electricity and clean water.

Awang Tengah said the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) would ensure adequate electricity and water supply to support industries in the area.

“We can generate about 20,000 megawatts of electricity from hydro and other sources like coal and gas.

“SCORE will receive adequate sources of energy,” he said at a memorandum-of-understanding signing between the Public Utilities Ministry and the Construction Industry Development Board, which will provide training to plumbers.

It was aimed at plugging leaking pipes, thus reducing the loss of non-revenue water to 20% by 2015. – Bernama.

Sarawak Offers Expertise On Development Initiatives With Papua New Guinea
July 30, 2008 00:20 AM

KUCHING, July 29 (Bernama) -- Sarawak is willing to share its expertise on development initiatives, especially on commercial land development concepts, with Papua New Guinea, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

He said the state government offered to send officers to Papua New Guinea to share such inputs as part of efforts to enhance bilateral relations between both Commonwealth members, which shared many common features, including an ancient land code.

"After independence, the land tenure concept was transformed by converting old native customary rights land into commercial estates through the setting up of land banks so as to inject it with economic value and if it works in Papua New Guinea, it will be one of the best transformation in the Pacific islands," he said at a state dinner here Tuesday night in honour of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare's visit to Sarawak.

Similarly, he said, officers from Papua New Guinea were invited to come to Sarawak on exchange programmes because the government believed in the "Prosper thy neighbour" policy to survive in a fast changing world.

He said Sarawak would be intensifying bilateral trade ties by buying the country's vast sago resources through the imports of sago flour when a memorandum of understanding is signed between the Sarawak Land Consolidated Development Authority and Independent Public Business of Papua New Guinea on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Somare urged investors from Sarawak, which had already established its presence in Papua New Guinea's timber industry, to explore investment potentials in his country, which enjoyed a warm and cordial relationship with Malaysia since diplomatic ties were forged in 1976.

He said, at present, there were about 200 Malaysian companies in Papua New Guinea with investments worth US$800 million in agriculture, mainly oil palm, forestry, retail, property development and print media.

The current indication showed that Malaysian investment would reach the US$1 billion mark in five years' time, he said.

Somare, who was confident that his visit here would forge new collaborations, said Malaysia was his country's fourth largest world foreign direct investor and the largest from Asia at the moment.

-- BERNAMA

Dam Construction In Sarawak Needs EIA Report - State Minister
August 01, 2008 17:28 PM

KUCHING, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- It is mandatory to have an environment impact assessment (EIA) report for the construction of a dam in Sarawak, contrary to claims by environmental non-governmental organsiations (NGOs).

Datuk Michael Manyin, who was appointed urban development and tourism minister in a minor state cabinet reshuffle Friday, said dam construction was a prescribed activity listed under the Natural Resources and Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order 1994,

He said the order clearly spelt the mandatory requirement of an EIA.

"An EIA is mandatory for any prescribed activity and the report must be prepared by qualified consultants registered with the Sarawak Natural Resources and Enviroment Board (NREB)," said the former environment and public health minister in a statement here Friday.

Manyin said after completing the EIA report, the consultant must submit it to NREB, a state-owned enviromental protection agency, for review and approval.

"These EIA reports will be reviewed by a group of experts drawn from various stakeholders in Sarawak, and in approving the EIA report, NREB imposes stringent conditions," he added.

On claims that the EIA report does not take the views and interest of the public and affected communities into consideration, he dismissed such notion.

In defending Sarawak's records in protecting and preserving the environment, he said the state goverment had amended the Natural Resources and Enviroment Ordinance to ensure a balance between development and protection of enviromental quality.

A news report last week revealed that the Sarawak Government was planning to build 12 hydro-electric dams in the state to push the total generating capacity to 7,000 megawatts by 2020 � a 600 per cent increase from the current capacity.

The dams will be located in the Ulu Air, Metjawah, Belaga, Baleh, Belepeh, Lawas, Tutoh, Limbang, Baram, Murum and Linau rivers.

The plan will also see an extension to the Batang Ai dam.

-- BERNAMA

Developing Kota Samarahan As Malaysia's 4th Cyber City
August 02, 2008 20:06 PM

KUCHING, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Kota Samarahan will in future be the country's fourth smart city with efforts underway to draw companies with MSC (multimedia super corridor) status to set up operations there and develop it into a cyber city.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the Sarawak government was working closely with the ministry to develop Kota Samarahan like Cyberjaya in Selangor, Bayan Lepas High Technoloy Park in Penang and Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah.

"The ministry has the role of encouraging and coordinating investments by interested parties with MSC status," he said after visiting the ministry's exhibition site at Tebingan Kuching here, Saturday.

He said the state government had identified Kota Samarahan as the most strategic area to be developed into the country's fourth cyber city.

Asked on the number of companies which had expressed interest in investing in Kota Samarahan, Ongkili said there were already companies with MSC status in Sarawak which were prepared to expand their operations to Kota Samarahan.

He said the cyber city project for Kota Samarahan had been included in the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, and the ministry was only waiting for the report from the state government on the project.

"We need to know the site cost and about the infrastructure from the report, while the ministry will provide the high-speed broadband facility," he added.

Kota Samarahan, which is about 30km from Kuching city, is also known as a knowledge city as the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Universiti Teknologi Mara campuses are located there.

-- BERNAMA

Score to create 1.5 million jobs
Wednesday August 6, 2008 MYT 3:40:07 PM
By SHARON LING
TheStar

KUCHING: The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) will create some 1.5 million job opportunities when it is fully up and running.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said Score’s manpower requirements included 70,000 in managerial and professional jobs, 140,000 engineers and technicians, 340,000 in semi-skilled labour and 945,000 in unskilled labour by 2030.

“We have over 20 years to achieve this but we have to start right now. Vocational and technical education will have to be intensified for Sarawak to meet its manpower needs,” he said Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening of the 3rd Asia Pacific Technical Human Resource Development Conference and Career Expo here, Taib said Sarawak would have to rely on expatriate labour initially while developing its own manpower resources to meet the needs of Score.

“As we develop, we will have to train people to undertake bigger jobs and to be versatile as our industrial base becomes bigger,” he said.

He called on training providers to work together with employers in order to produce skilled workers for Score’s 10 key sectors, including oil and gas, aluminium, steel, glass and tourism.

The two-day conference was organised by the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (ICATS) to promote technical and vocational education in the region.

1.5 million jobs by 2030


KUCHING: The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) will create some 1.5 million job opportunities when it is fully up and running.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said Score’s manpower requirements included 70,000 in managerial and professional jobs, 140,000 engineers and technicians, 340,000 in semi-skilled labour and 945,000 in unskilled labour by 2030.

“We have over 20 years to achieve this but we have to start right now. Vocational and technical education will have to be intensified for Sarawak to meet its manpower needs,” he said yesterday.

Speaking at the opening of the 3rd Asia Pacific Technical Human Resource Development Conference and Career Expo here, Taib said Sarawak would have to rely on expatriate labour initially while developing its own manpower resources to meet the needs of Score.

“As we develop in the future, we will have to train people to undertake bigger jobs and to be versatile as our industrial base becomes bigger,” he said.

He called on training providers to work together with employers in order to produce skilled workers for Score’s 10 key sectors, including oil and gas, aluminium, steel, glass and tourism.

The two-day conference was organised by the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak to promote technical and vocational education in the region.

Dams will benefit Sarawak, says Wong
NST Online » Local News
2008/08/08

KUCHING: The state government is not perturbed over objections to its plan to build hydroelectric dams.
State Public Health and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said the government was aware of the importance of environmental conservation and would strike a balance between the state's future and its environment.

"Obviously, the opposition has its version of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which differs from ours. Bear in mind we know exactly what we are doing. And what we are doing is for the benefit of Sarawak. There is no reason for us to destroy the state's environment," he said after receiving a courtesy call from Kuching South mayor James Chan at Bangunan Maitulmakmur yesterday.

The state's plan to build 12 hydroelectric dams over the next 20 years has received criticism from non-governmental organisations and opposition parties.

On Wednesday, state Parti Keadilan Rakyat chief Dominique Ng had asked the government to be transparent and to release EIA reports related to the dams.
Asked to comment on Ng's statement, Wong said the EIA report had yet to be completed. He also questioned the need for the report to be made public as it contained classified information.

Last week, the state cabinet had agreed in principle on the building of the RM3 billion 940mW Murum Dam in Upper Baram division. The project is set to be awarded to China Three Gorges Project Corporation, which built the famous Three Gorges Dam.

Koperasi manfaat peluang niaga di Score


KUCHING: Usahawan koperasi perlu merebut peluang perniagaan, hasil daripada pelaksanaan Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (Score) yang berjumlah lebih daripada RM300 billion, sekali gus dapat menjana pertumbuhan ekonomi di negeri ini.

Menteri Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri (Pembangunan Usahawan Bumiputera), Mohamad Naroden Majais, berkata peluang berkenaan hendaklah dimanfaatkan sepenuhnya oleh setiap koperasi supaya dapat meningkatkan lagi masyarakat perdagangan dan perindustrian Bumiputera.

Beliau berkata, bagi mencapai hasrat itu pengurusan koperasi hendaklah bijak meningkatkan keupayaan setiap ahli supaya lebih dinamik, berdaya saing dan berbudaya keusahawanan agar berupaya menggerakkan perniagaan ke tahap cemerlang.



Katanya, kerajaan berhasrat supaya koperasi dapat menyumbang sehingga lima peratus kepada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) negara dan membantu kerajaan membendung inflasi serta meningkatkan taraf sosio ekonomi masyarakat.

“Bagaimanapun, pada tahun lepas sumbangan koperasi kepada KDNK negara, adalah sangat sedikit iaitu sebanyak satu peratus saja.

“Jumlah itu sangat kecil jika dibandingkan dengan beberapa koperasi di negara luar seperti Vietnam dan Eropah yang menyumbang kepada KDNK negara sehingga 12 peratus,” katanya berucap di Majlis Penutupan Seminar Reformasi Koperasi Sebagai Pemangkin Ke Arah Melahirkan Usahawan Koperasi, di sini, semalam.

Seminar itu, dihadiri 230 peserta yang terdiri daripada ahli koperasi di Sarawak dan Brunei, anjuran Maktab Kerjasama Malaysia Cawangan Sarawak (MKMCS).

Turut hadir, Pengarah Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia Sarawak (SKMS), Mat Deris Jusoh dan Pengarah Suruhanjaya Pengarah Maktab Kerjasama Malaysia Cawangan Sarawak (MKMCS), Ramlan Kamsin.

RM4bil needed just for Sarawak roads

MIRI: Sarawak will need up to RM4bil just to build roads to facilitate development of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the state was grateful to the Federal Government for the RM3.3bil allocation under Budget 2009 to upgrade basic amenities and infrastructure.


»Rural areas in Sarawak are far behind the other states in terms of even the most basic facilities« TAN SRI DR GEORGE CHAN HONG NAM
But he warned there might be a need for more funds if SCORE was to be developed on the scale as planned.

“The RM3.3bil is much needed by our state and we are glad to be given such an amount. It will help us implement high-priority projects in rural areas like water supply, electricity generation and construction of access roads,” he said yesterday.

He said necessary basic infrastructure including roads, water and electricity would have to be in place as soon as possible to enable investors to start their projects.

“Based on initial calculations, construction of the roads within the SCORE perimeter alone will cost at least RM4bil. We will seek more federal funding as and when necessary.”

He was commenting on whether the Budget allocation for Sarawak under basic amenities and infrastructure development was enough.

Dr Chan said it was appropriate that Sarawak was given the highest allocation among the states because it was the biggest and most complicated logistics-wise.

“Furthermore, rural areas in Sarawak are far behind the other states in terms of even the most basic facilities.”

SCORE to help bring more business


BINTULU Port is expected to benefit from the Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy (SCORE) initiative, a development project undertaken by the state government.

The development of the corridor stretches from Tanjung Manis in the Mukah Division to Similajau in Bintulu, and seeks to cultivate projects in the renewable energy sector.

Mior Ahmad Baiti Mior Lub Ahmad SCORE will see the development of energy-intensive industries like steel processing, aluminium smelters, zinc processing, glass manufacturing and shipbuilding.

Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Mior Ahmad Baiti Mior Lub Ahmad said Bintulu Port, located in the middle of the corridor, would support the emerging industries in Bintulu and surrounding areas as far as Sibu and Miri.

“This is because Bintulu Port is the only deepwater and multipurpose port with dedicated facilities designed to handle a variety of cargo in the area,” he told StarBiz.

He added that the industrial development would contribute and drive cargo growth for Bintulu Port.

“In the coming years, new cargo composition such as aluminium products, pulp and paper products, bio-diesel, down stream timber products and agricultural products will be handled by Bintulu Port,” he said.

British Investors Keen To Explore Business Opportunities Under Score
September 15, 2008 21:32 PM

KUCHING, Sept 15 (Bernama)-- British investors are keen to explore the business opportunities being created under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Boyd McCleary said Monday.

"My visit to Sarawak is to find out more about Score and the opportunities for British investors to participate," he told reporters after paying a courtesy call on the Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Dr George Chan at his office in Petra Jaya here Monday.

Score, covering an area of 70,709 sq kilometers and with a population of 607,800,is a corridor located within the central region of Sarawak.

At the heart of the corridor are energy resources, particularly hydropower, coal and natural gas which is to be found in abundance.

Meanwhile, Dr Chan, who is also the Industrial Development Minister, said the state welcomed the participation of British investors in Score.

However, he said there was no specific discussion on which industries the British investors were keen on participating in.

"I explained to him (Boyd), that steel, aluminum and solar panel industries are those the state is looking forward to apart from fisheries and the Halal hub.

"I am sure that when we present the whole picture of Score, the British investors would be interested," he added.

-- BERNAMA

Promote Sarawak as a golfers’ hub, says chief minister
Saturday October 11, 2008 TheStar

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/10/11/southneast/p3Taib.jpg

Guest of honour: Taib holding the glassball
to officiate the opening of the club.

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Sarawak has the potential to attract golfing tourists with its increasing number of golf courses and facilities, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said.

He said various golf clubs should work together to jointly promote golfing to tourists from the east Asian region.

“With the number of golf courses mushrooming in Kuching, we are in a position to promote golfing as a tourism attraction,” he said when opening the new Sarawak Club Golf Resort here recently.

Taib suggested that Sarawak Club should work out a joint strategy with other golf clubs in and around Kuching to attract golfers from countries like Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China to come here for their golfing holidays.

Earlier, Sarawak Club president Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Husain said the RM24mil golf resort, located next to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), was designed to cater for the recreational needs of families.

Its facilities include an 18-hole golf course with a 25-bay driving range, a clubhouse, library, gymnasium, sports shop, children’s playground, an outdoor spa, a wading pool for children and a full-size swimming pool.

Sarawak hopes to SCORE with railway link


KUCHING: Sarawak plans to build a railway link between Similajau and Tanjung Manis by 2030 to facilitate the transportation of goods in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the railway project would be studied in conjunction with the development of the Similajau Port in Bintulu division.

“I think it will go to Igan (in central Sarawak) first. Beyond that, it depends on the development of the corridor,” he told reporters after opening a parliamentary discourse on government yesterday.

He added that if the proposed halal hub and deep-sea fishing in Tanjung Manis, in Mukah division, went according to plan in the next seven or eight years, the extension of the railway would become more feasible.

“That’s our ambition €“ to see before the year 2030 a rail link between Similajau and Tanjung Manis that will cut the time of transportation in the whole of the SCORE area,” he said.

The 320km-long corridor in Sarawak’s central region was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in February and will tap into the state’s vast energy resources.

Earlier Taib said, in his speech, that Sarawak had the potential to develop 20,000MW of hydroelectricity and 8,000MW of power from coal-fired stations in SCORE.

“This will give us the ability to attract projects that consume a lot of energy, such as aluminium smelting, iron and steel, and glass manufacturing,” he said. He also said the state would not focus on energy-intensive industries alone but would also develop the agriculture sector, particularly fishing and aquaculture.

In addition, he said SCORE would generate employment opportunities for the state, including 30,000 managerial positions and 70,000 technical and professional jobs.

“We will have to increase our educational institutions and skills-training centres in the next 10 to 15 years to meet this employment need,” he added.

Proposed Score railway to be ready by 2015

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


DAMAI: The proposed rapid railway system (RRS) for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) is expected to be in place by 2015 to complement the development of its halal hub and deep-sea fishing industry, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday.

He said the project’s feasibility study would also take into consideration the development of the Similajau deep-sea port in Bintulu to connect the 320km regional corridor in the state’s central region up to Tanjung Manis in Mukah division.

“It is our ambition to connect the whole of Score by a railway corridor before 2030 to cut down on transportation time,” Taib told reporters after officiating at the opening of the three-day parliamentary discourse on government entitled “Scenario Planning and Change Management: Managing Score and the Future”.

However, Taib said, a detailed feasibility study needed to be conducted first as such a railway network would be costly to develop due to the region’s topography, including the soft soil of the Batang Rajang delta.

Earlier in his speech, Taib said about RM9 billion would be spent on infrastructure development in Score, which was projected to attract more than RM300 billion worth of investments in the next 30 years.

He was confident that Score, which was expected to create 1.5 million jobs by 2030, would present immense opportunities and challenges in transforming Sarawak and ensuring that its economic spin-off effects would give the people a sense of fair distribution in income.

The location of the state’s vast natural resources for renewable energy, including hydro and coal within Score, justified the development of the 70,000-sq-km corridor, which had the potential to attract heavy industries such as aluminium smelter plants, he said. — Bernama

RM5b bangunkan infra SCORE

Oleh MUHAMAD ZAID ADNAN

KUCHING 30 Okt. - Sejumlah RM5 bilion diperuntukkan dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) bagi pembinaan kemudahan infrastruktur di Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (SCORE).

Timbalan Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang berkata, projek itu adalah pembinaan jambatan bernilai RM4 bilion, projek bekalan air (RM100 juta) dan pembinaan lapangan terbang (RM600 juta).

Beliau berkata, kesemua projek berkenaan akan dikendalikan Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR).

''Projek-projek ini secara tidak langsung akan merancakkan lagi pembangunan ekonomi di negeri ini," katanya di sini semalam.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap merasmikan persidangan pegawai-pegawai kanan JKR di sini.

Jabu yang juga Menteri Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Infrastruktur berkata, SCORE akan menyumbang pertumbuhan sebanyak tujuh peratus Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) negeri pada 2030.

Katanya, selain itu, ia juga akan mewujudkan sebanyak 1.6 juta peluang pekerjaan kepada penduduk Sarawak.

''Antara pelaburan yang dirancang untuk SCORE ialah RM200 bilion bagi sektor perindustrian, RM67 bilion (sektor tenaga), RM61 bilion (infrastruktur fizikal), RM3 bilion (infrastruktur institusi) dan RM3 bilion (pembangunan modal insan)," jelasnya.

Sementara itu, Jabu berkata, beliau mahu JKR lebih bersiap sedia dalam memastikan usaha pembangunan SCORE mengikut jadual.

Beliau menjelaskan, agenda kerajaan negeri untuk menjadi sebuah negeri yang progresif serta memiliki industri sendiri akan tercapai sekiranya JKR sebagai agensi pelaksana utama menunaikan komitmen mereka.

Proposed Score railway to be ready by 2015

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


DAMAI: The proposed rapid railway system (RRS) for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) is expected to be in place by 2015 to complement the development of its halal hub and deep-sea fishing industry, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday.

He said the project’s feasibility study would also take into consideration the development of the Similajau deep-sea port in Bintulu to connect the 320km regional corridor in the state’s central region up to Tanjung Manis in Mukah division.


No Kuching!?

Sarawak PWD Sets Up Unit For SCORE Projects
October 29, 2008 20:02 PM

KUCHING, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Public Works Department (PWD) has set up a unit to undertake the specialised roles and face challenges effectively in the implementation of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Sarawak PWD director, Datuk Hubert Thian, said SCORE had strategically identified six pertinent infrastructure development projects worth over RM5 billion under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) with PWD.

"With a multitude of projects in the pipeline, PWD has set up a special SCORE unit with the re-deployment of professional and technical staff," he said in his welcoming address at the PWD Senior Officers' Conference 2008 here, Wednesday.

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minster, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, launched the conference.

Thian said the department, while endeavouring to optimise its existing staff strength, was nevertheless still in dire need of adequate professional and technical staff to cater to the increased workload and allocation under 9MP.

"To overcome the prevailing weaknesses in the departments existing structure where aspects such as planning, budgeting, monitoring, verification and validation in the implementation of projects are of paramount importance -- the department has meditatively embarked on numerous significant initiatives to ensure that we continue to serve and deliver effectively," he said.

Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched, the SCORE in Bintulu in February this year to drive the state's real gross domestic product (GDP) up to RM118 billion in 2030.

Meanwhile, Jabu called on the federal agencies to consult and visit the state before the implementation of projects.

"Before making any decision, we would like a full discussion and consultation with the state," he told a media briefing after the launch of the conference.

-- BERNAMA

Japan's Tokuyama to invest RM1.8b
By Roziana Hamsawi
Published: 2008/11/28

http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/tokuy/pix_bottom

TOKUYAMA Corporation Bhd from Japan will invest an estimated US$500 million (RM1.8 billion) in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), building a polycrystalline silicon manufacturing plant.

The plant will be built on a 200ha land at Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu and operations are expected to commence in 2012 with an annual production capacity of about 3,000 tonnes.

The investment will most likely increase through expansion of the facilities, said Tokuyama president Shigeaki Nakahara, depending on the demand trends for semiconductors and solar cells.

He also said that the manufacturing base will mark Tokuyama's second polycrystalline silicon plant outside Japan and the company has plans to hire about 300 local employees.

"Demand for polycrystalline silicon is expanding rapidly and many orders have been received globally," he said, adding that a second plant was viewed as necessary to meet demand.

Nakahara said Bintulu was chosen as the best site due to, among others, the preferential tax treatment, good support from both the federal and state governments and the abundant supply of electricity, including from the Bakun dam.

He was speaking at a joint media conference with International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Also present was Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Malaysian Industrial Development Authority director general Datuk Jalilah Baba.

Polycrystalline silicon is mainly used for applications in solar cells and in the semiconductor industry.

The Tokuyama group, established in 1918, is mainly in the chemical business, with sales of US$3.08 billion (RM11.2 billion) in 2007. Its market share in the silicon industry is about 15 per cent.

Muhyiddin, meanwhile, said Tokuyama's investment is a reflection of the continued confidence of foreign investors in Malaysia as an offshore investment location.

"It is gratifying to note that even during a period of global economic uncertainty, foreign investor confidence in the country remains strong," he said.

The minister added that Japan was the largest investor in the Malaysian manufacturing sector in 2006 and 2007 with approved investments of RM4.4 billion and RM6.5 billion respectively.

For the first 10 months of 2008, he added, Japanese investments totalled RM4.5 billion in 48 projects.

Dr Chan, meanwhile, said since the launch of Score last year, the Sarawak state government has received 18 interested enquiries from companies in the energy-intensive industries, valued at RM65.4 billion.

^^1.8bil?? dats cool!!

RM65b prospects on the horizon
By Chong Pooi Koon
Published: 2008/12/04

http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/rawak-2/pix_bottom

Foreign investors are keen to invest as much as RM65 billion in Sarawak, but the lack of funding in basic infrastructure could pose a problem, an adviser with the State Planning Unit says.

The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) development, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in February, has already received 18 enquiries from Australia, the UK, Japan and Taiwan.

The potential investments involve the building of aluminium, iron, steel and glass plants as well as the fisheries and aquaculture industries.

"We have received very good response from the investors. Already, people are coming to see us before we have gone out to promote it," said Chang Ngee Hui, adviser to the State Planning Unit in the Chief Minister's Department.

He was speaking to reporters after his presentation at the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Chang said the economic slowdown has not affected investor interest as these major companies are looking at a 15- to 20-year investment horizon.

Most of them are seeking to position themselves early in a strategic location like Sarawak, which is close to China, as the global power shifts from the West to the East Asian country.

"This is a very good start. We want as many of these projects to start in SCORE as we can.

"But first, to do this we'll need the federal government to help us fund the basic infrastructure projects like roads, airports and, probably, some training institutions," Chang said.

The SCORE development is located in the central region of Sarawak, covering roughly 57 per cent of the state, or equivalent to the size of Pahang, Perak and Johor combined.

It is a long-term development spanning 2008 to 2030.

Basically a private sector-driven development, only 20 per cent of the RM334 billion planned investments in the 22 years will be provided by the government in the form of infrastructure development, while the rest will come from private investors.

To date, the federal government has committed RM5 billion under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to build access roads to energy sites and for the part-development of the Similajau Industrial Estate, among others.

"We are waiting for the funds to be disbursed. This is being worked at, and the federal government's support will be a big help," Chang said.

Azam to study impact of SCORE in Sarawak
By SHARON LING


KUCHING: Non-governmental organisation Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) plans to undertake a study on the social impact of major pro*jects such as the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Husain said the study was needed as such projects presented new challenges to the people due to rapid changes in the political, economic and social environments.

“We are aware of the need to keep people informed and engaged in the development process.

“To undertake this, Azam is set to explore fresh approaches to reach out to the people, especially grassroots communities in rural areas and the younger generation,” he said at the NGO’s 25th anniver*sary dinner here on Monday night.

Aziz said that Azam had also proposed the development of a new communication strategy to disseminate information on development projects to the people.

“We feel this needs to be done to ensure there is commitment and support from the people for the projects,” he said.

In accepting Azam’s proposals, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the organisation should gear up to play a bigger role in facilitating increased engagement between the state and the people.

He said that people were no longer content to merely be recipients of information and wanted to engage directly with the state.

“Azam needs to get closer to community leaders and build a base from which it can gather samples of public opinion,” he added.

Sarawak to electrify 85% of state by 2010
Saturday December 6, 2008

KUCHING: Some 85% of Sarawak’s rural areas are expected to have electricity supply by 2010, said Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

He said that RM150mil had been allocated for rural electrification under an installation contract running from 2008 to October 2009.

“It is being implemented by six companies in the southern, central and northern regions of Sarawak and is expected to be completed in October next year,” he said, adding that it would see 68% of rural areas receiving electricity supply through the main grid by then.

For 2009 to 2010, he said the Federal Government had allocated an additional RM374mil for rural electrification.

“With this allocation, we will be able to widen the area of coverage to 85%,” he said after launching a rural electrification project at Kampung Mantung Marau in Serian near here early this week.

Awang Tengah also said that Sarawak’s terrain of mountains and rivers made it difficult to provide connections to remote spots.

As such, he said the state was looking into providing electricity through alternative means such as solar, wind and diesel in areas not be connected to the main grid.

Kenyahs gear up for SCORE
Tuesday, December 9, 2008

KUCHING: The Kenyahs in Sarawak are aiming for greater participation in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) by encouraging their young to join the workforce or grab the spinoff economic opportunities.

Patron of Sarawak Kenyah National Association (PKKS), Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan said the Kenyahs are now developing their human capital by equipping their people with qualifications that would enable them to take part in SCORE.

Jacob said as SCORE is to be implemented in areas with large Kenyah populations, Kenyahs must be prepared to face the challenges brought on by it or risk missing out from reaping the benefits.

One of the initiatives taken by PKKS was to set up its Education Fund last month to encourage the younger generation to excel in studies, so that they acquire the academic qualifications needed to participate in SCORE.

“We must get prepared from now on. It is best that we play a greater role otherwise we will miss out on the opportunities presented,” he said at a pre-Christmas dinner organised by PKKS Kuching branch here on Sunday night.

Jacob, who is also Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry and Baram MP, told the Kenyah community to be wary of representatives from the opposition who are making more frequent appearances in the interior.

“The local political arena is more challenging following the March general election, with the opposition trying to make inroads into the rural and interior areas and instigating us to go against the government.

“However at a time of economic downturn such as this, it is better for us to continue supporting the government and focus our efforts towards making our community active participants of development,” he said.

Jacob also called on PKKS to promote unity within the Kenyah ethnic group and with other races through cultural activities, exhibitions and seminars within and outside Sarawak.

On the PKKS Education Fund, he was happy to note that it has thus far raised RM60,000 less than a month after its establishment.

“We will continue to raise funds to achieve our target of RM200,000″ he said.

Meanwhile PKKS Kuching branch chairman Lucas Kallang called on Kenyahs living in Kuching to register with the association so they and their children can benefit from the Education Fund.

“I believe there are many Kenyahs living in Kuching and its surrounding areas who are yet to register with us. Registering as members would enable the Kenyahs to look out for each other in times of need,” he said.

PKKS, for the first time, presented incentives to young Kenyahs who excelled in the UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM public examinations that night.

The programme for the dinner themed ‘Alem Pemung Kejaie’ (Night of Togetherness) included Christmas carols, lucky draws and traditional performances.

Malaysian construction companies look to SCORE
Published: 2008/12/12

OSK Research Sdn Bhd says the immediate beneficiaries of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) are construction players since the necessary infrastructure must be put in place first.

This would then be followed by increasing energy demand to support the industrialisation process, benefiting utility providers like Sarawak Energy Bhd.

"At a later stage, we see a flurry of property developments catering for the migration from the rural to urban areas and rising incomes," it wrote in a report yesterday.

"We believe the SCORE concept makes strong economic sense. We postulate that the initial development of SCORE would be centred on basic and necessary infrastructure such as roads, bridges and ports.

"SCORE's allocation for infrastructure development stands at RM67 billion, which will mostly be government-funded," it added.

OSK Research sees listed companies such as Sarawak Energy, Hock Seng Lee Bhd and Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd benefiting from SCORE.

SCORE is the last of the five growth corridors launched by the federal government.

The targeted investments in SCORE come in second after Iskandar Malaysia's RM334 billion.

The development horizon of SCORE will span 22 years (2008 to 2030). It is expected to generate employment for more than three million people.

The geographical coverage will stretch from Tanjung Manis to Similajau and into the hinterlands, covering 70,000km sq, or 56 per cent of Sarawak.

Construction firms to gain from Sarawak project
By SHANNEN WONG

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/12/12/business/b_04various.jpg

PETALING JAYA: Construction companies such as Hock Seng Lee Bhd, Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd and TRC Synergy Bhd would be the first beneficiaries of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

In a company update report yesterday, OSK Research said: “We believe SCORE’s immediate beneficiaries are the construction players as building the necessary infrastructure will be required first, followed by utility players such as Sarawak Energy Bhd as increasing energy demand is needed to support the industrialisation process.”

More housing developments supporting the increasing rural-urban migration and rising income levels would emerge at a later stage, it added.


SCORE, which was the fifth and last development corridor project launched in February, has allocated RM67bil for infrastructure development projects, mostly government-funded.

OSK Research recently brought 16 fund managers to Bintulu, Sarawak, to gain insight on how companies such as Sarawak Energy, Naim Cendera and Hock Seng Lee could position themselves to benefit from SCORE.

“We opine that Hock Seng Lee stands to be a key beneficiary of SCORE by virtue of its strong foothold in the state. The company’s expertise in marine engineering is clearly a plus point given Sarawak’s swampy terrain,” it said.

OSK Research said Hock Seng Lee was likely to gain further margins upside as it secured more jobs as a main contractor as opposed to being a subcontractor.

Hock Seng Lee’s orderbook stood at RM1.6bil, of which over 80% is still outstanding. Its orderbook would keep the company busy until 2010.

Year-to-date, the company has managed to secure some RM868mil worth of jobs, including the RM452mil Kuching wastewater management system job secured last month.

Meanwhile, low-cost housing developer Naim Cendera would also benefit from SCORE as the proposed construction of dams would spur rural-urban migration and relocation of local tribes.

“We will see a lot of potential spillovers in terms of new projects to support one of the largest projects under SCORE, which would be the Salco Aluminium Smelter project in Similajau, that costs about RM7bil or more,” said OSK Research.

The spillover would include the development of new low-cost housing to relocate residents living near the smelter, it said.

With its strong reputation in the low-cost housing segment, Naim Cendera jived well with the rural-urban migration theme in Sarawak, it said, adding that mass market housing remained the key demand segment there.

“Nonetheless, owing to the recent slowdown in Sarawak property market, we project a marginal 4% to 8% growth in sales for its financial year ending Dec 31, 08 (FY08) to FY10,” OSK Research said.

Naim Cendera has also been awarded Phase 1 of a major flood mitigation project in Kuching worth some RM150mil.

OSK Research said economic progress within the three major growth nodes in SCORE, namely Tanjung Manis, Mukah and Similajau, could also have an upward impact on property prices in the areas.

Although the global economic slowdown may have taken its toll in slowing the development of SCORE, the research house believed the availability of cheap power in Sarawak should see investment return, to the benefit of companies such as Sarawak Energy, Hock Seng Lee and Naim Cendera once global credit issues were resolved.

Sarawak negeri paling kaya menjelang 2030

Oleh SOPI SAMAILE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



SAMARAHAN 16 Dis. - Kerajaan negeri yakin Sarawak menjadi negara paling kaya dalam Malaysia menjelang 2030, kata Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Beliau berkata, hasrat itu dapat direalisasikan menerusi projek-projek yang dirancang dalam Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (SCORE).

Menerusi SCORE ujarnya, kerajaan negeri menerima modal pelaburan sebanyak RM300 bilion dan wilayah pembangunan itu memberi peluang pekerjaan kepada rakyat di negeri ini dalam meningkatkan taraf kehidupan masing-masing.

''Saya mempunyai cita-cita dan sanggup bekerja kuat untuk memastikan Sarawak menjadi sebuah negeri yang maju serta kaya menerusi pelaksanaan Score ini.

''Menerusi SORE juga akan membolehkan kita memperoleh pelbagai peluang pekerjaan yang sesuai dengan kemahiran masing-masing sama ada menjadi jurutera, penyelidik, geologi, guru dan profesional," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap pada majlis Pelancaran 45 Tahun Sarawak Maju Dalam Malaysia Peringkat Bahagian Sri Aman serta melancarkan buku bertajuk 'Samarahan - Dari Kampung Terpencil Ke Desa Ilmu' di Dewan Suarah, Kota Samarahan di sini hari ini.

Abdul Taib menegaskan, peluang yang terdapat di SCORE adalah lebih besar berbanding rungutan atau ketidakpuasan segelintir pihak yang sudah pasti tidak mahu melihat kejayaan pembangunan tersebut.

Katanya, pembangunan SCORE memberi banyak kebaikan berbanding keburukan dan rakyat perlu melihat kebaikan yang diperoleh di negeri ini secara keseluruhannya.

Sehubungan itu, beliau mahu rakyat terus mempertahankan semua kebaikan tersebut dengan terus memelihara ketenteraman dan perpaduan di kalangan rakyat pelbagai kaum di Sarawak.

''Jangan kita terlalu menurut tuntutan soal remeh temeh, kecil serta hasutan mengenai perkara-perkara peribadi kerana ia sudah pasti akan membantutkan kemajuan dan pembangunan rakyat dan negeri ini.

''Kita yakin menjelang tahun 2030, Sarawak akan menjadi sebuah negeri maju berasaskan industri yang dijelmakan menerusi pembangunan di SCORE," ujarnya.

Sarawak SEDC To Start Upgrading Exercise Of Flagship Properties In Early 2009
December 22, 2008 15:24 PM

KUCHING, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Economic Development Corporation's (SEDC)five-year plan to upgrade its flagship tourism properties to keep in step with the changing times and new market trends, is expected to start early next year, its chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip said on Sunday.

He said the SEDC's upgrading plan included the refurbishment of the kilometre-long Kuching Waterfront, hotels, namely the Holiday Inn Kuching and the Crowne Plaza Riverside Kuching as well as the Sarawak Cultural Village and Top Spot Food Court here.

"The exercise will take a few months to complete. The budget has been approved and sourced from our own internal funds," he told reporters after the reopening of the Sarawak Plaza shopping complex here by Kuching Hotels Sdn Bhd chairman, Tan Sri Bujang Mohd Nor.

Located in the city's central business district at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman here, Talib said RM3 million was spent on the refurbishment of the complex but the SEDC would maintain the current rental rates to assist the 41 tenants face the current economic downturn.

First opened for business in November 1985, the Sarawak Plaza, which remains one of the premier shopping complexes here, is owned by Kuching Hotels, a subsidiary of the SEDC.

The Kuching Waterfront project was opened in 1993 and is regarded as one of the best examples of urban regeneration and rehabilitation in Asia with old shophouses and international-class hotels sprouting within 500 metre radius of it.

-- BERNAMA

Sarawak SEDC To Start Upgrading Flagship Properties Early Next Year
December 21, 2008 15:48 PM

KUCHING, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Economic Development Corporation's (SEDC) five-year plan to upgrade its tourism flagship properties in view of changing times and new market trends is expected to start early next year, its chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip said today.

He said SEDC's upgrading plans included refurbishment of the Kuching Waterfront, hotels (Holiday Inn Kuching, Crowne Plaza Riverside Kuching), as well as the Sarawak Cultural Village and Top Spot Food Court here so as to remain competitive.

"It (exercise) will take a few months to complete. The budget has been approved and sourced from our own internal funds," he told reporters at the reopening ceremony of the Sarawak Plaza shopping complex here by Kuching Hotels Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Bujang Mohd Nor.

Located in the city's central business district along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman here, Talib said RM3 million was spent on refurbishing the complex but SEDC would maintain the rental rates for the time being to assist the 41 tenants during these current economic downturn.

The refurbishment to improve the ambiance and facilities to make it more user-friendly to both shoppers and tenants took almost two months.

First opened for business in November 1985, the Sarawak Plaza, owned by Kuching Hotels, a subsidiary of SEDC has remained one of the premier shopping complex here.

Talib added that SEDC would not shelve or postpone its plans for the overall exercise even though the economy was not doing very well because the cost involved would be low now.

"We will continue to complement the state's efforts in promoting Sarawak as a premier tourist destination, bearing in mind that tourism is one of the key development strategies under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score)," he said.

SEDC's involvement in the tourism industry dates back to 1976 with the opening of the first international hotel, Holiday Inn in Sarawak, followed by Riverside Majestic Hotel in 1992.

The Kuching Waterfront project was opened in 1993 and is regarded as one of the best examples of urban regeneration and rehabilitation projects in Asia as old shop houses and international-class hotels are nestled within a 500m radius.

-- BERNAMA

Pekerja mahir asing bakal isi kekosongan sektor tenaga di Score


KUCHING: Sebahagian besar tenaga kerja berkemahiran dalam pelbagai sektor industri berasaskan tenaga dan logam di Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (Score) di wilayah tengah Sarawak, akan terdiri daripada pekerja asing.

Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, berkata perkara itu berlaku berikutan Score memerlukan 2.5 juta tenaga kerja terlatih dalam tempoh kira-kira 20 tahun, sedangkan kadar pertumbuhan jumlah penduduk Sarawak terlalu rendah, hanya 1.9 peratus setahun.

Beliau berkata, populasi semasa Sarawak hanya 2.4 juta, justeru mustahil negeri ini mampu menyediakan 2.5 juta buruh terlatih dalam tempoh kira-kira 20 tahun.

Katanya, Score dijangka menyediakan 69,000 peluang pekerjaan peringkat pengurusan dan profesional; 337,000 pekerjaan berkemahiran sederhana; 143,000 jurutera dan juru teknik serta 946,000 pekerjaan tidak mahir.

"Jadi untuk mengisi semua keperluan itu, Sarawak akan mengambil tenaga kerja berkemahiran asing yang diperlukan di Score.

"Apapun pengambilan mereka bagi mengisi semua jawatan yang memerlukan kemahiran tinggi lebih bersifat sementara, sebelum jawatan itu diisi oleh anak tempatan yang berkelayakan," katanya ketika menjawab soalan seorang peserta pada sesi dialog di Persidangan Perniagaan Sarawak, anjuran Institut Kajian Strategik dan Kepimpinan (Asli) di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri, Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Asli, Datuk Dr Michael Yeo.

Taib berkata, memang benar kemasukan tenaga kerja asing ke Sarawak tidak semudah yang dicakap berikutan negeri ini mempunyai Undang-Undang Imigresen yang ketat, namun ia bukan alasan.

RM500m projects for Sarawak


KUCHING: The Works Ministry will complete three bridge and two road projects worth nearly RM500mil in Sarawak this year, said minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed.

He said RM191mil would be spent to upgrade the Kuching-Sibu trunk road from the Julau junction to

the Sibu Airport while a new

road costing RM201mil would

be built to link the proposed new federal administrative centre near here.

The bridges planned are across the Batang Loba Pulau and Batang Belawai rivers in central Sarawak (RM71.4mil) and Sungai Trusan in the north (RM31mil).

Mohd Zin said this in his speech which was read out by his deputy Datuk Yong Khoon Seng during

the opening of a briefing session on variation of prices and indus-

trialised building systems yesterday.

Mohd Zin said the ministry had increased its allocation for road and bridge projects in Sarawak under the Ninth Malaysia Plan by RM124mil to RM2.1bil.

As of last year RM1.44bil or 68.3% of the funds had been spent.

Mohd Zin said 38 of the 68 infrastructure projects under the 9MP had been completed.

The roads which have been upgraded are Jalan Tun Jugah to

BDC junction in Kuching costing RM98mil, Miri to Jalan Lutong (RM109mil), Jalan Oya-Mukah-Balingian (RM374mil), and Jalan Tanjung Genting-Paradom in Sarikei (RM21mil).

Part of the additional RM124mil allocated to the state would be used to upgrade Jalan Mambong Sejingkat here as a bridge across Sungai Kuap in the area was

now under construction, he

said.

He added that more funds had also been made available for the construction of a road connecting Beluru to Long Teru and Long Lama in northern Sarawak.

Sarawak Plans Study On SCORE's Workforce Need


BINTULU, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Government plans to appoint a group of specialists from Australia to conduct a human resource study to meet the industrial need in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) project, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said today.

He said the special study group would be appointed by the end of this year to look into the type of skills and knowledge required by the various industries involved in Score as well as in the project's spin-off activities.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the Gulf Golden International Flying Academy (GGIFA) hangar and witnessing the handing over of training aircraft from Airflite Limited Australia and Cessna USA to the academy.

Taib said the group would conduct the study in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) which is expected to be completed in two years' time.

He said the study was vital at the early stage of the Score project implementation to make sure that the workforce, particularly Sarawakians, attained the right skills and knowledge required in this corridor development programme.

Taib, who is also the State Minister of Resource Planning and Management, said his concern was more on the human capital development as the basic infrastructure for the development of Score project had been in place.

The chief minister said the state government had agreed to offer a 30 percent discount to GGIFA for the price of a 45-acre land here that the academy had earmarked as the site for its new campus.

He said the discount would be given upon the completion of the project.

Earlier, GGIFA executive chairman Datuk Morshidi Abdul Rahman said it had requested for the discount as the cost of the whole area estimated at about RM120 million was deemed as "quite high".

He said at present the academy was training 120 trainees, comprising 60 from Sarawak and the remainder from Sri Lanka, Iraq, Iran, Singapore and Brunei.

GGIFA had also set up an office in India with the intention to facilitate recruitment of students from the country, he added.

-- BERNAMA

Sarawak halal hub attracts RM4bil outlay
By SHARON LING


TANJUNG MANIS: Six Taiwanese and five local companies have committed more than RM4bil in investments in the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub in Mukah Division in central Sarawak.

The Taiwanese firms under the SEA Party group will invest RM1.89bil in aquaculture projects, including rearing of fish, prawns and chickens, as well as in biotechology projects.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2009/2/19/business/b_06paklah.jpg
Abdullah (second left) launching the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub. With him are (from left) Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu

They signed a leasing agreement for industrial land with Tanjung Manis Food and Industrial Park Sdn Bhd at the launch of the halal hub by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday.

The five Malaysian companies will jointly invest nearly RM2.2bil in the halal hub.

The biggest single investment of RM2bil will come from Najee Brothers Sdn Bhd, which will also venture into aquaculture projects.

Golden Priority Sdn Bhd will invest RM45mil in pineapple plantation and canning facilities while Pertanza Sdn Bhd plans a RM10mil catfish-farming project.

Intigrati Sdn Bhd has committed RM100mil to build a technical college for Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy while Musyati Sdn Bhd is expected to invest RM30mil to build hotels and restaurants.

The five companies signed triparite agreements for licences to occupy the land with state-owned Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corp (STIDC), Tanjung Manis Food and Industrial Park Sdn Bhd and Halal Industry Development Corp.

Also sealed at the ceremony was a sales and purchase agreement between STIDC and Tanjung Manis Food and Industrial Park for 1,012ha of land.

The halal hub is expected to involve the development of 16,000ha. Factories will be set up to produce halal food for the export markets.

Abdullah Arrives To Open Tanjung Manis Halal Hub


TANJUNG MANIS (Sarawak), Feb 18 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi arrived here this afternoon to launch the Tanjung Manis New Township Halal Hub.

Accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, and Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Abdullah was accorded a traditional welcome, steeped in customs and traditions of the Sarawak diverse ethnic groups at the project site.

Federal and state cabinet ministers, federal and state government officers, thousands of people from all walks of life, various races and religions were on hand to greet the prime minister who arrived at 3pm.

To mark the launch, six Taiwanese and three Malaysian investors will sign a land lease agreement and receive the permit to enter the project site.

Aquaculture, biotechnology and livestock projects will be implemented apart from setting up halal food processing estate and research and development centre.

Under the economic stimulus package announced in November last year, the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation was tasked with developing Tanjung Manis.

It was allocated RM135 million to develop basic infrastructures for the hub.

Since the project was announced at the World Halal Forum in Kuala Lumpur in May 2008, the corporation received many proposals for halal-based industrial projects worth not less than RM2 billion, covering 47,000 acres.

The projects are expected to generate 3,000 jobs for locals.

The Tanjung Manis new township project started in 1990 with timber industries and has since diversified into deepsea fisheries industry, poic-palm oil industry cluster), petroleum and gas-based industries and shipping industry.

The launch of the halal hub is expected to increase diversity of the existing economic activities in Tanjung Manis.

-- BERNAMA

RM9 billion pour into Halal Hub in Sarawak
By Firdaus Abdullahfirdy@nst.com.my



TANJUNG MANIS: Sarawak's Halal Hub here charted a remarkable start with the signing of more than RM9 billion worth of investment agreements on the first day of its official existence.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who launched the 16,000ha Halal Hub, the largest in the country, witnessed the signing of the investment agreements by local and foreign investors.

The investments in the hub, which falls under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy or Score, were for a variety of livestock and food production related industries, a technical college and a 3-star hotel in this once quiet fishing village.

"The launching of the Halal Hub here today is testimony of the government's commitment towards the well-being of the people.

"This is not an exclusive project but rather an inclusive project that will benefit the locals," Abdullah said at the launch yesterday.

"The locals must be trained to play a part in the specialised industries like biotech, aquaculture and food production. We don't want the locals to be mere spectators."

The prime minister also urged future industries in the area to give priority to local workers.

He urged locals here and the surrounding areas to grab the opportunities and not wait for the government to persuade them.



"All elected representatives must also ensure that the people are aware of the opportunities presented by the creation of the Halal Hub here. This is the biggest and the most important growth area in the country."

Abdullah also called on the government and private bodies to set up skills training institutes in areas where industries were expected.

"We must prepare our people before the industries start operation, not after."

Abdullah said the Federal Government would continue to support the Sarawak government in its endeavours to attract investors.

Earlier, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud revealed that despite the current financial crunch, Score had sealed several long-term investments.

"With the completion of Bakun (hydroelectric dam) and the expected commissioning of the Murum (hydroelectric dam) by 2010, we should have between 9,000 and 10,000MW of electricity for our energy intensive industries.

"Tanjung Manis, with its natural inland port and with the Halal Hub, would eventually be connected to the surrounding areas like Mukah with good infrastructure. Tanjung Manis is an integral part of Score," Taib said.

The Halal Hub is being developed by Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STDIC) with close cooperation with the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC).

Present were STIDC chairman Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and HDC chairman Tan Sri Syed Jalaluddin Syed Salim.

Universiti Limkokwing pilih Sarawak

KUCHING 19 Feb. - Kolej Universiti Teknologi Kreatif Limkokwing (Universiti Limkokwing) mahu menjadikan Sarawak sebagai destinasi pilihan serta hab utama dalam pendidikan antarabangsa pada masa akan datang.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Universiti Limkokwing, Profesor Datuk Ar Parid Wardi berkata, untuk tujuan itu, institusi pengajian tinggi tersebut akan mengukuhkan lagi pendidikan global dan memainkan peranan membawa lebih ramai pelajar dari luar negara untuk meneruskan pengajian di negeri ini.

Katanya, Limkokwing Sarawak juga mahu membantu dalam membangunkan ekonomi negeri ini dengan memperkayakan modal insan bertenaga mahir di kalangan anak-anak tempatan bagi menampung keperluan sumber manusia untuk menjayakan Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (SCORE).

''Dengan menerapkan teknologi kreatif serta pemikiran kreatif terkini, kami yakin dapat membangunkan modal insan yang mempunyai ilham dan pemikiran penting dalam proses transformasi Sarawak kepada ekonomi inovatif.

''Rakyat Sarawak begitu kreatif dan ini terbukti dalam banyak perkara yang mereka ceburi," katanya pada majlis Perasmian Laman Web Kolej Universiti Teknologi Kreatif Limkokwing di Kampus Sarawak di Jalan Nanas di sini hari ini.

Majlis perasmian disempurnakan oleh Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Hadir sama Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang; isterinya yang juga Pengerusi Majlis Pentadbir Universiti Limkokwing; Senator Puan Sri Empiang Jabu serta Presiden yang juga pengasas Universiti Limkokwing, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Lim Kok Wing.

Dalam pada itu, Ar Parid berkata, menerusi laman web yang dilancarkan itu, Universiti Limkokwing bukan sahaja menarik pelajar luar negara ke Sarawak bahkan mempromosikan negeri ini ke seluruh dunia apabila melayari antara web universiti paling popular di dunia itu.

Katanya, Universiti Limkokwing menerima empat juta pelawat laman web setiap bulan dan 60 juta setiap tahun dari 188 buah negara dari seluruh dunia.

Tambahnya, pada laman web tersebut boleh dimasukkan maklumat mengenai Sarawak seperti kebudayaan, ekonomi serta sosial yang terdapat di negeri ini.

''Kita mahu membawa seluruh dunia datang ke Sarawak dan meletakkan Sarawak ke persada antarabangsa menerusi hubungan bidang pendidikan yang dibangunkan oleh Universiti Limkokwing selama ini," ujarnya.

SCORE tarik minat pelabur jangka panjang
KUCHING 25 Feb. - Sarawak yakin krisis kewangan global tidak memberi kesan yang buruk kepada pelaksanaan Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (Score) memandangkan pelabur yang berminat bersifat jangka panjang.

Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata, persaingan dalam industri berat sentiasa berterusan dan memerlukan mereka terus melabur bukan untuk tempoh masa yang pendek.

''Kemelesetan sememangnya memberi kesan. Tetapi bagi syarikat besar, mereka bukan fikir melabur untuk hari ini atau esok tetapi melabur untuk jangka panjang.

''Syarikat besar ini telah membuat komitmen dan mereka tidak menarik hasrat untuk tidak melabur di negeri ini," katanya selepas merasmikan cawangan pertama Kuwait Finance House (M) Bhd., (KFH) di Sarawak di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir, Pengarah Urusan KFH, Datuk K. Salman Younis dan Menteri Perumahan Sarawak, Datuk Seri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Abdul Taib berkata, dengan pemintaan tinggi dalam industri berat, Sarawak akan meneruskan usahanya membangun serta membekalkan tenaga elektrik bukan sahaja untuk penggunaan domestik tetapi juga untuk dieksport.

Malah jelas beliau, tenaga elektrik dari Sarawak mampu untuk disalurkan kepada Semenanjung pada tahun 2015 dengan keupayaan sebanyak 2,000 Megawatt.

Terdahulu pada ucapannya, Abdul Taib memberitahu pertumbuhan institusi kewangan masa kini menunjukkan ekonomi negara masih kukuh.

Bagaimanapun jelas beliau, institusi kewangan Islam terutamanya perlu inovatif dan kreatif supaya tidak terheret sama dengan krisis kewangan global.

Government Mulls Sending Surplus Energy From SCORE To Peninsular Malaysia




KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The government is considering transmitting excess hydro power generated at the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) to Peninsular Malaysia, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz said the surplus energy might also be sent to Sabah and Kalimantan, an Indonesian province bordering Sarawak.

The government would nevertheless focus on development of heavy industries first so that the energy produced could be fully utilised in Sarawak, he said when replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit (BN-Mambong) during question time.

He had asked whether the surplus energy from SCORE would be channeled to Sabah, Kalimantan or Peninsular Malaysia.

Earlier, replying to Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) on SCORE, Amirsham said though the real impact from SCORE is still too early to be seen, several indicators showed encouraging performance especially in terms of investments.

Thus far, close to RM80 billion worth of projects have been committed to SCORE's development vis-a-vis RM34 billion investment target until next year, he said.

He said foreign investments are mainly from the United States, China and Japan.

The bulk of the investment commitments are in the sectors involving huge investments, particularly in heavy industries, such as aluminium smelting and energy generation, he said.

Under the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the minister said RM2.5 billion has been allocated to SCORE, one of the five regional development corridors being implemented by the government.

Of the RM1.035 billion allocated for SCORE this year, RM414 million has been channelled to the Sarawak state government to start initial work for all the nine projects suggested by the state government under SCORE.

Implementation of the projects would have high impact on the people, especially people residing in the central region, covering Bintulu, Mukah, Miri, Sibu, kapit and Sarikei, in business and employment aspects, he said.

The nine recommended projects are building an access road to the Murum Dam project site in Kapit; access road to Kapit town; access road to Baram Dam in Miri; access road to Baleh Dam site, access road to Limbang Dam; build a road to Tunoh, Kapit; build a new airport in Mukah; provide piped water supply to Samalaju; and build Samalaju industrial estate.

-- BERNAMA

ZPTM diluas tingkat kapasiti Score

http://www.utusan.com.my/pix/2009/0228/Utusan_Malaysia/Sabah_&_Sarawak/wb_02.1.jpg
ABDUL Taib Mahmud (tengah) melihat model projek Pembangunan Pelabuhan dan Terminal Minyak di Tanjung Manis pada perasmiannya di Kuching, semalam. Turut kelihatan dari kiri, Alfred Jabu Numpang, Bujang Mohd Nor, Abang Johari Tun Openg, Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.

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KUCHING 27 Feb. - Zon Perindustrian Tanjung Manis (ZPTM) perlu diperluaskan sebagai usaha meningkatkan kapasiti pembangunan di wilayah Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (Score).

Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata, zon tersebut kini yang hanya seluas 6,474.9 hektar boleh dipertimbangkan untuk ditingkatkan keluasannya kepada 18,615.5 hektar.

Menurutnya, ini bagi menempatkan projek Pembangunan Pelabuhan dan Terminal Minyak di Tanjung Manis bernilai RM600 juta.

''Projek tersebut adalah di bawah tanggungjawab ASSAR Senari Group, Perbadanan Pembangunan Industri Perkayuan Sarawak (STIDC) serta rakan kongsi mereka yang lain.

''Pembangunan projek tersebut secara tidak langsung menggerakkan ekonomi serta memberi manfaat kepada penduduk di Tanjung Manis, Sibu dan kawasan sekitarnya," kata beliau.

Beliau berkata demikian pada majlis penganugerahan dan menandatangani Projek Kompleks Dua Industri STIDC/ASSAR Senari Group (ASIC DUA) di Tanjung Manis, Mukah di sini hari ini.

Hadir sama Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber II Sarawak, Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Menteri Perumahan Sarawak, Datuk Seri Abang Johari Tun Openg dan Pengerusi ASSAR Senari Group, Tan Sri Bujang Mohd. Nor.

Pada masa sama, Abdul Taib mahu Perbadanan Elektrik Sarawak (SESCo) dan Tenaga Nasional Bhd. (TNB) memastikan kejayaan projek Bakun dalam usaha meningkatkan bekalan tenaga elektrik untuk ZPTM.

Beliau percaya kejayaan projek Bakun bukan sahaja dapat membekalkan tenaga elektrik untuk pembangunan di Score tetapi turut menarik para pelabur dari luar negara.

Tambahnya, kejayaan projek pembangunan di Score pula akan dapat meminimumkan pembuangan pekerja akibat krisis ekonomi dunia yang melanda ketika ini.

''Contohnya, fasa pertama projek di Tanjung Manis itu akan memerlukan seramai 500 pekerja dan ia secara tidak langsung membuka peluang pekerjaan kepada penduduk di negeri ini dan meminimumkan pembuangan pekerja," katanya.

Dalam pada itu, ditanya mengenai penurunan kadar tarif elektrik di Sarawak, Abdul Taib berkata, proses mengenai perkara itu masih dalam perbincangan.

Bagaimanapun, beliau memberitahu, tarif elektrik di negeri ini masih pada kadar rendah berbanding tarif di Semenanjung.

Secara purata tarif elektrik Perbadanan Elektrik Sarawak (SESCo) adalah 29 sen/kWh manakala Tenaga Nasional Berhad (Semenanjung) 32.5 sen/kWh.

Tanjung Manis berubah wajah

Oleh MUHAMAD ZAID ADNAN
zaid.adnan@utusan.com.my


http://www.utusan.com.my/pix/2009/0303/Utusan_Malaysia/Sabah_&_Sarawak/wb_01.1.jpg
pengurus Besar Pusaka, Len Talif Salleh (dua dari kanan) memberi penerangan kepada Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengenai pelan pembangunan Hab Halal Tanjong Manis sambil diperhatikan Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud (dua kiri) pada majlis pelancarannya di Tanjung Manis, baru-baru ini. - UTUSAN / AMIR HAFIZ ABD. RAHMAN

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TANJUNG MANIS 2 Mac - Dulu Tanjung Manis yang terletak di Kuala Batang Rajang lebih dikenali sebagai sebuah perkampungan nelayan kecil yang dipenuhi pokok nipah dan hutan bakau.

Namun kini, Tanjung Manis yang majoriti penduduknya kaum Melanau dibangunkan sebagai sebuah bandar industri baru yang merangkumi bidang perikanan, perkayuan, hab halal dan perkapalan.

Usaha kerajaan untuk membangunkan kawasan tersebut bermula setelah menjadikan Tanjung Manis sebagai kawasan industri hiliran perkayuan pada tahun 1984.

Komitmen itu berterusan setelah kerajaan melancarkan Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (SCORE) tahun lalu.

Ia merangkumi keluasan 70,708 kilometer persegi bermula dari Bintulu ke Tanjung Manis.

Usaha kerajaan untuk menarik lebih ramai pelabur di Tanjung Manis diperkuatkan dengan membina lebih banyak infrastruktur asas termasuk lapangan terbang, pelabuhan, telekomunikasi, air dan elektrik.

Malah, semasa pelancaran SCORE, kerajaan turut mengumumkan untuk membina sebatang jalan raya baru sepanjang 325 kilometer yang menghubungkan kawasan Tanjung Manis hingga ke Samalaju di Bintulu bagi memacu perkembangan koridor tersebut.

Terbaru, pada 18 Februari lalu, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi melancarkan Hab Halal Tanjung Manis (HHTM) yang dijangka bakal menarik pelaburan bernilai RM9 bilion.

Hab halal yang terletak di dalam kawasan Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (SCORE) itu merupakan pangkalan produk halal terbesar di Malaysia untuk meneroka pasaran industri halal dunia.

Bagi penduduk sekitar Tanjung Manis, usaha kerajaan itu merupakan rahmat bagi mereka yang mendambakan pembangunan sekali gus mampu meningkatkan ekonomi rakyat.

Menurut mereka, zon perindustrian yang dibuka itu akan membuka peluang pekerjaan dan memperkenalkan tempat mereka kepada masyarakat luar.

Bagi Fredy Jumaat, 22, pelancaran HHTM di Tanjung Manis akan membuka banyak peluang pekerjaan terutamanya kepada anak tempatan Sarawak.

Menurutnya, ketika ini ramai anak jati dari negeri ini yang mencari rezeki di Semenanjung kerana berpendapat sukar untuk mencari peluang pekerjaan yang lumayan di negeri mereka sendiri.

Katanya, peluang pekerjaan yang banyak itu akan membolehkan mereka berjasa kepada negeri sendiri.

''Ia sekali gus akan membantu rakyat meningkatkan ekonomi," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini baru-baru ini.

Bagi Aswadi Hanafi, 20, HHTM merupakan salah satu projek yang mampu dibanggakan rakyat Sarawak kerana ia akan menjadi pangkalan produk halal terbesar di Malaysia bagi meneroka pasaran industri halal dunia.

''Baguslah, selepas ini rakyat Malaysia dan dunia akan lebih mengenali kawasan ini antara kawasan termaju di negara ini," ujarnya.

Usop Pengkoh, 50-an berkata, HHTM dapat mengurangkan pergantungan kerajaan terhadap rakyat asing.

Katanya, ia merupakan faedah yang baik terutamanya bagi rakyat Sarawak yang ketika ini kebanyakannya merantau di Semenanjung dan Singapura bagi mencari pekerjaan.

''Adalah satu kerugian sekiranya rakyat negeri ini tidak memanfaatkan peluang yang diwujudkan kerajaan di Tanjung Manis ini," jelasnya.

Sementara itu, Sa'anah Shuhaili berkata, pembangunan kawasan Tanjung Manis secara tidak langsung akan membawa pelabur luar dan pelancong untuk datang ke situ.

Usahawan tenun songket dari Belawai itu menjelaskan, kedatangan pelancong itu akan dapat membantu usahawan di Tanjung Manis untuk mempromosikan hasil buatan mereka kepada pelancong.

''Malah, pembukaan kilang-kilang ini akan menarik lebih ramai tenaga kerja untuk berada di sini dan sekali gus membantu penduduk memperbaiki taraf ekonomi dan memasarkan produk mereka," jelasnya.

Lapangan terbang baru RM200j di Mukah

MUKAH 26 April - Dua projek infrastruktur baru akan dilaksanakan di bandar Mukah dalam masa terdekat dan ia merupakan buah tangan tidak ternilai yang diumumkan Ketua Menteri Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud sempena Pesta Kaul bermula semalam.

Abdul Taib memberitahu, pembinaan lapangan terbang baru akan dimulakan secepat mungkin menerusi peruntukan RM200 juta disalurkan Kerajaan Persekutuan.

''Projek ini akan dilaksanakan secepat mungkin bagi menggantikan lapangan terbang lama Mukah yang pada masa ini hanya mampu menampung pesawat ringan sahaja," katanya pada majlis pecah tanah bagi pembinaan bangunan pusat pentadbiran Mukah di sini semalam.

Menurutnya, apabila siap kelak, projek itu selaras dengan hasrat kerajaan menyediakan kemudahan pengangkutan moden untuk manfaat rakyat.

Lapangan terbang baru itu dikatakan mampu mengendalikan pesawat 737.

Katanya, ia merupakan pelaburan jangka masa panjang kerajaan untuk menarik aktiviti pelaburan di kawasan yang terletak dalam Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (Score).

''Ini merupakan antara projek yang kerajaan laksanakan di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan. Harapan kita agar rakyat terus mendapat manfaat dari segala yang kerajaan lakukan," katanya.

Selain lapangan terbang, bandar Mukah juga akan menerima bangunan pejabat pusat pentadbiran yang baru.

Bangunan berkenaan dibina setinggi lima tingkat di atas tanah seluas enam hektar.

Ia bakal menempatkan pejabat daerah, Syarikat Sesco Berhad, pejabat Lembaga Pembangunan Koridor Wilayah (Recoda) dan pejabat-pejabat jabatan dan agensi kerajaan yang lain.

Kerja-kerja pembinaan bangunan yang terletak berhampiran Menara Pehin Setia Raja dijangka mengambil masa dua tahun.

''Projek ini dibina bagi memastikan pengurusan aktiviti-aktiviti di bawah Score dapat dikendalikan dengan cekap," katanya.

Pembangunan kedua Sarawak

Oleh SOPI SAMAILE
utusansarawak@utusan.com.my

KUCHING 28 April - Pembangunan fasa kedua Sarawak bukan hanya bertumpu kepada pembangunan fizikal tetapi juga kemajuan secara menyeluruh membabitkan modal insan di kalangan rakyat tempatan bagi memenuhi keperluan di Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (Score).

Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata, projek Score adalah pembangunan peringkat tertinggi dalam politik pembangunan di negeri ini yang akan memberi limpahan manfaat kepada rakyat tanpa mengira bangsa dan agama.

Menurutnya, pembangunan seterusnya di negeri ini bukan lagi soal membina jalan raya, sekolah, perparitan, insentif tanah atau sebagainya, tetapi tanggungjawab sekarang adalah membangunkan modal insan yang mahir serta profesional.

''Perkara paling sukar adalah membangunkan modal insan berkualiti dan kita memerlukan tempoh 14 hingga 15 tahun bagi melahirkan tenaga kerja profesional dan berkemahiran tinggi.

''Ini kerana pembangunan pada masa akan datang membabitkan penggunaan teknologi tinggi dan canggih, maka kita perlu ada tenaga mahir di kalangan rakyat tempatan yang berpengetahuan menggalas cabaran tersebut,'' katanya.

Beliau berucap merasmikan Majlis Seminar Gelombang Kedua Pembangunan Untuk Ketua Masyarakat Negeri Sarawak di sini hari ini.

Abdul Taib berkata, pembangunan di Score memerlukan pelaburan sebanyak RM330 bilion dan Sarawak tidak mampu membangunkannya sendiri memandangkan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) negeri ini hanya RM65 bilion.

Bagaimanapun katanya, kestabilan politik, ekonomi serta pentadbiran cekap daripada kerajaan mampu menarik pelaburan luar negara.

Malah kata beliau, Sarawak mempunyai kelebihan ekoran mempunyai tenaga hidro untuk menyokong pertumbuhan Score yang menarik minat banyak syarikat antarabangsa melabur ke negeri ini.

Sehubungan itu, Abdul Taib memberitahu, kerajaan negeri tidak perlu mempunyai rancangan induk ekonomi tetapi cukup dengan mempunyai dasar politik pembangunan untuk membawa Sarawak dan rakyatnya ke mercu kejayaan.

''Teras perjuangan kita (kerajaan) adalah mahukan rakyat memperoleh kemajuan serta kemakmuran, namun, ia menuntut usaha daripada setiap rakyat untuk merealisasikan Sarawak sebagai sebuah negeri yang maju pada 2030.

''Kita perlu menebus kemiskinan yang dialami 45 tahun lalu yang memerangkap rakyat daripada kemajuan dan mereka harus keluar daripada perangkap tersebut dengan memikirkan keperluan masa depan generasi akan datang," ujarnya.

Sehubungan itu, Abdul Taib mahu setiap pemimpin kaum, penghulu serta ketua kampung menceritakan pengalaman sendiri ketika berdepan dengan kemiskinan kepada rakyat agar masyarakat menyokong dan mendokong dasar pembangunan negeri.

Score tak pinggir kepentingan Orang Ulu


MIRI: Kerajaan tidak pernah mengetepikan kepentingan suku kaum Orang Ulu di Sarawak dalam usaha menjayakan pelaksanaan projek pembangunan dalam program Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (Score).

Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan, berkata semua kaum di negara ini diberi keutamaan dan tidak disisihkan dalam pembangunan yang dirancang kerajaan.

Beliau berkata, ia selaras dengan strategi baru kerajaan sekarang yang nampaknya amat serius mengambil beberapa strategi dan pendekatan pembangunan untuk meningkatkan kualiti hidup masyarakat Malaysia termasuk Orang Ulu, selaras dengan konsep Satu Malaysia.



“Justeru, masyarakat Orang Ulu perlu sama-sama memastikan kejayaan program berkenaan supaya mereka turut mendapatkan manfaat maksimum projek terbabit,” katanya pada majlis penutupan Simposium Budaya Orang Ulu, selama dua hari, di sini, malam kelmarin.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Baram, berkata tiga pendekatan utama perlu diambil untuk menyahut harapan itu termasuk menggunakan ilmu pengetahuan sebagai kunci utama pembangunan.

Pendekatan lain, katanya, ialah menggunakan landasan sedia ada seperti Score untuk meningkatkan penyertaan mereka dalam pelbagai industri yang dilaksanakan.

Mengenai penganjuran simposium itu, Jacob berkata ia tepat pada masanya untuk menyemarakkan lagi usaha bersepadu masyarakat Orang Ulu menyertai pembangunan yang dirancang kerajaan.

Beliau berkata, resolusi dari simposium itu yang akan dihantar kepada kerajaan untuk diberikan pertimbangan sewajarnya.

Pada majlis yang sama Jacob menyampaikan bantuan kerajaan berjumlah RM30,000 kepada Persekutuan Persatuan Orang Ulu Sarawak selaku penganjur simposium.

Lebih 1,000 ahli wakil daripada sembilan persatuan di bawah naungan persatuan itu menghadiri simposium dua hari berkenaan.

Sarawak Company Seeks Opportunities From Stimulus Package And SCORE


By Caroline Jackson

KUCHING, May 4 (Bernama) -- Hock Seng Lee Bhd, the Sarawak-based marine engineering specialist which has RM1.7 billion worth of projects in hand, is eyeing opportunities from the recently announced economic stimulus package for 2009-2010 and the implementation of the Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy (Score).

Its managing director Datuk Paul Yu Chee Hoe, expressed confidence that Sarawak would continue to require the company's reclamation and construction services for such initiatives, including Score's development of the still remote areas of the central region and efforts to provide greater linkages between energy-producing hubs and larger cities which hold out the promise of infrastructure and construction works.

"The value of our projects in hand is at a record high, keeping our people and our machinery busy but with the economic downturn, the situation is challenging and we have to be vigilant on cost controls, keeping financing and cash-flow issues uppermost on our minds," he said in the company's latest annual report released here today.

The company's shares on Bursa Malaysia were traded four sen higher at 70 sen at 11.06 am today.

HSL currently has RM1.7 billion worth of projects in hand, including RM905 million secured in 2008, with the RM452 million contract for the first phase of a comprehensive centralised sewage system for Kuching city notable among the new projects.

"We have commenced work on phase one of Kuching's centralised waste water management project and our site operations are presently focused at the treatment plant site near to the Tun Salahuddin toll-bridge, with survey and setting out of the first piping routes later this year," he said.

Yu said that last year, eight projects worth RM136 million were completed, including three major Public Works Department road contracts in Samarahan and Mukah as well as dredging works for Kuching Port Authority.

Looking ahead, he said the company needed to exercise business acumen to confront procurement and financial management as the credit market was tight and public sector budgets under pressure.

He cited the drastic fluctuation in material prices last year which was impossible to forecast.

"For example between the end of 2006 and mid-2008, that is between the time of tendering or negotiating many contracts and their actual execution, the market price for diesel increased from RM1.58 per litre to RM3.60 per litre, steel from RM1,800 per tonne to RM4,200 per tonne and cement from RM247 per tonne to RM275 per tonne" he said.

HSL group's revenue amounted to RM309.07 million in 2008, up 25 percent from 2007's revenue of RM248.17 million while profit before tax rose to RM56.46 million from RM53.7 million.

-- BERNAMA

Dr Chan: More briefings scheduled to attract FDIs into SCORE


KUCHING: The state government has organised roadshows in several countries to attract foreign investments in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the investment trips covered the Middle East, Norway, China, Singapore and Brunei.

While foreign ambassadors and high commissioners had been briefed on it, he said more briefings were scheduled during the Malaysia-China Business Council annual joint council meeting and the Malaysia-China business forum here in August.

Dr Chan, who is also the state Industrial Development Minister, said companies and members of the business chambers in China would be invited to the forum.

Since its launch 15 months ago, Dr Chan said SCORE was progressing well, based on the many enquiries received from potential investors.

“We are confident that investments coming into SCORE will generate new business and job opportunities for Sarawakians,’’ he said, adding that the government would carry out a comprehensive human capital development plan to support the industries in SCORE.

A consultant had predicted that SCORE would create 1.6 million jobs by 2030.

Dr Chan said Sarawak approved some RM20bil worth of foreign direct investments (FDIs) last year.

“This high level of foreign investments indicates that the new strategy of the state government to attract more FDIs by tapping our rich natural resources, such as hydro-electricity, coal and silica sand, is the right approach,” he said, adding that the investments came mainly from Austra*lia, China, Japan and the Netherlands.

PNB dijemput melabur jayakan Score


KUCHING: Kerajaan Negeri sedia menerima pelaburan baru daripada Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) terutama yang membabitkan usaha meningkatkan keupayaan industri berat yang dirancang dilaksana di bawah Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (Score).

Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, berkata Score memerlukan banyak pelabur tempatan dan luar dengan PNB dijemput bersama pelabur sedia ada membangunkan pelbagai projek penting yang dirancang dibangunkan dalam tempoh 20 tahun.

Beliau berkata, PNB melalui syarikat majoritinya seperti MNRB Holdings Berhad, CCM Berhad, Sime Darby dan UMW Toyota Motor telah banyak melabur dalam pelbagai sektor berkepentingan tinggi bagi menjana ekonomi negeri.



"Selain CCM yang telah melabur RM50 juta bagi pembinaan kilang baja di Bintulu dan Sime Darby yang mempunyai 48,250 hektar ladang sawit di Sarawak, kita mengalu-alukan PNB membuat pelaburan tambahan di sini.

"Saya yakin dengan keupayaan dan pengalaman yang dimiliki PNB selama 30 tahun, mereka dapat membantu Sarawak membangunkan industri di bawah Score yang jelas memerlukan pengurusan modal cekap," katanya selepas merasmikan Majlis Bersama PNB 2009 di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama Pengerusi PNB, Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid; Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak, Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot dan Presiden merangkap Ketua Eksekutif Kumpulan PNB, Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman.

Terdahulu dalam ucapannya, Taib menyifatkan, PNB telah banyak berjasa kepada rakyat Sarawak sehingga berjaya mengubah nasib penduduk yang pernah dibelenggu kemiskinan sehingga menjadi antara negeri terkaya di Malaysia.

Ahmad Sarji dalam ucapannya, berkata kira-kira 10 peratus dari modal keseluruhan PNB dimiliki 887,000 rakyat Sarawak dengan ini menjadikan penduduk negeri ini antara pemilik saham penting dalam syarikat multi nasional tempatan.


"PNB telah berjaya mendidik rakyat terdahulu yang tidak mempunyai pendidikan tinggi mengenai peluang menanam modal dengan penduduk telah mula yakin dengan peluang pelaburan mudah yang ditawarkan kerajaan.

"Pembangunan Sarawak tidak boleh dipisahkan dengan PNB kerana saya boleh mengatakan satu pertiga dari ekonomi negeri dipacu syarikat-syarikat yang mempunyai pelaburan secara langsung bersama PNB," katanya.

Sementara itu, Ahmad Sarji dalam ucapannya, berkata kira-kira 10 peratus dari modal keseluruhan PNB dimiliki 887,000 rakyat Sarawak dengan ini menjadikan penduduk negeri ini antara pemilik saham penting dalam syarikat multi nasional tempatan.

"Sejumlah 9.14 bilion unit saham amanah dimiliki pelabur Sarawak dengan wang berkenaan digunakan bagi pelaburan dalam syarikat utama negara menjadikan rakyat Sarawak juga terbabit dalam menjana ekonomi Malaysia.

"Hampir 83 peratus dari keseluruhan saham amanah pelaburannya adalah kurang dari 10,000 unit dengan ini menunjukan kita mempunyai ramai pelabur berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana yang mahu melabur," katanya.

Naim plans eyeing major infrastructure and property projects in Sarawak
By JACK WONG


KUCHING: Construction company Naim Holdings Bhd is eyeing major infrastructure and property development projects in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Senior vice-president/director Ahmad Abu Bakar said Naim was in talks with state agencies and other interested parties on several development proposals within SCORE.

“However, discussions are still at the preliminary stage,” he told StarBiz.

SCORE will be driven by the development of Sarawak’s abundant hydro and coal resources to generate electricity to power energy-intensive industries, like alunimium smelters, to be set up with the regional economic development belt.

Sarawak is now building the proposed Murum dam – which could generate about 900MW - in the upper Rejang Basin in central Sarawak. Murum is located upstream of the on-going Bakun hydroelectric dam project capable of generating up to 2,400MW.

Several other hydro dam projects have also been planned in the upper reaches of the Rejang River.

To provide accessibility to these proposed dam sites, Sarawak Second Finance Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh said recently that six major road projects, with a combined length of 403km, within SCORE would be built.

The design for the access road from Jalan Bakun extended to Murum has been completed while other proposed access roads are still being designed.

Meanwhile, Naim was close to securing two road projects worth RM250mil in Sarawak, said Ahmad. The projects are funded by the federal government under the stimulus package.

He said Naim had an outstanding net order book of RM2.5bil that could keep the group busy in the next five years.

Its ongoing projects include a RM630mil contract from Syarikat Perumahan Negara Sdn Bhd to build some 5,000 residential homes in Kuching, Samarahan and Miri divisions, the RM310mil Bengoh dam near here, RM150mil phase one, Kuching flood mitigation project in Matang (the entire project is estimated to cost RM1.6bil), a RM188mil road project in Sibu and the proposed RM90mil Sarawak Islamic Centre project here.

Ahmad said Naim sold 633 houses and shophouses worth RM165mil last year. For the 2009 first quarter, it raked in some RM26mil from the sales of 103 such properties.

“Our target this year is to sell 800 units, 80% of them residential homes. Unsold houses (mostly high end), commerical units and detached lots are worth about RM20mil,’’ he said, adding that the company was carrying out various promotion activities to attract buyers.

Ahmad said Naim would save at least RM5mil this year through a series of cost-cutting measures introduced last year.

Naim posted a group net profit of RM83mil on a turnover of RM524mil for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2008 compared with RM80mil and RM646mil respectively in 2007.

For the first quarter ended March 31, Naim chalked up a group net profit of RM17mil on revenue of RM95mil.

Naim’s 36%-owned Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd contributed RM22mil in net profit to the group last year.

Sarawak approves RM80b investments for Score
By Desmond DavidsonPublished: 2009/06/12




THE Sarawak Regional Economic Development Authority (Recoda) has approved 24 investments worth over RM80 billion for implementation in the state's new economic growth area, the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) over the next five years.

The projects are estimated to generate over 20,000 jobs, excluding preparation of the basic infrastructure and plant site and construction of the factories.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the two biggest projects approved are an aluminium smelter in Mukah and a polysilicon plant in Bintulu.

Press Metal Bhd's aluminium smelter has a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year and is expected to start production in August, with an initial production of 50,000 tonnes per year.





On the Tanjung Manis halal hub, which is projected to draw some RM10 billion in investments, Taib said so far some RM400 million have been invested in the hub that covers an area of 16,000ha.

"This is out of the RM2 billion to be invested (in the hub) in the next five years," he told reporters after chairing Recoda's first meeting in Kuching yesterday.

Construction of the halal hub laboratory is expected to start at the end of this month or early next month.

"I hope by 2013, things would be visible on the ground," Taib said.

Recoda, which manages and promotes the development of Score, has spent about RM1 billion in preparing the authority and providing the basic infrastructure in the corridor since its formation two years ago.

These include manpower planning and training, the building of the Mukah airport, planning and designing of the roads to Baram and Murum, and setting up the industrial parks such as the 6,000ha Similajau industrial park in Bintulu.

Taib said the tender to construct the road to Murum, where a hydroelectric dam is to be built to provide some of the huge amount of energy needed to run the power hungry industries in the corridor, would be out later this year.

He also announced that state secretary Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot would be appointed as the general manager of Recoda when he retires in August.

Recoda on its website states that its primary goal is to create 1.5 million new jobs in Score and drive the state to achieve an average gross domestic product growth of 5.5 per cent per year by 2030.

To achieve that, it projects an investment of RM305 billion over the next 20 years.

24 Projects With RM80 Billion Investment Approved In SCORE


KUCHING, June 11 (Bernama) -- A total of 24 projects worth RM80 billion in investment have been approved by the Regional Economic Development Authority (RECODA) to be implemented in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in the next five years, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said Thursday.

Taib, who is also the state Finance Minister, said the projects would generate more than 20,000 jobs, not including those created in the construction of basic infrastructure and factories.

"The biggest projects approved are an aluminium smelter plant in Mukah and a polysilicon manufacturing plant within the SCORE. The others are at various stages," he said.

"I hope by 2013, things would be visible on the ground," he told reporters after chairing RECODA's first meeting at his office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.

Taib said the aluminium smelter plant of Press Metal Bhd, a Malaysian-based aluminium company, has an extrusion capacity of 100,000 metric tones per annum.

"It is expected to start production in August with an initial production of 50,000 metric tones per year," he said.

SCORE, one of the five regional development corridors being developed throughout the country, is located within the Central Region of Sarawak, stretching for 320 kilometres along the coast from Tanjung Manis to Similajau and extending into the surrounding areas and the hinterland.

Core of the corridor is the energy resources, particularly hydropower (28,000 megawatts), coal (1.46 billion tonnes), and natural gas (40.9 trillion square cubic feet) found abundantly within the Central Region.

On the Tanjung Manis halal hub, Taib said to date, a total of RM400 million investments had been pumped in with another RM2 billion expected in the next five years.

"The construction of a halal hub laboratory to conduct scientific works and quality control of the products will start at the end of this months or early next month," he said.

Taib said RECODA has spent about RM1 billion in providing the basic infrastructure of SCORE since its formation.

He said the money was spent on manpower planning and training, building of the Mukah airport, planning and implementation of roads to Baram and Murum Dam and the setting up of an industrial park.

"I'm quite happy that by the time we have our first meeting today, things are up-to-date," he added.

Taib also announced that State Secretary Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot would be appointed as RECODA's chief executive officer when he retires in August this year.

RECODA is the body to manage and implement SCORE. Its main goal is to ensure the success of SCORE by 2030 by creating 1.5 million new jobs and achieving an average gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth of 5.5 percent per annum.

Its role will be to achieve the projected investment of RM305 million over the next 20 years and ensure that planned physical and institutional infrastructure projects are successfully implemented.



-- BERNAMA

Taib: Sarawak projects score with investors


KUCHING: Investors have shown a strong interest in 24 major projects worth about RM80bil in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the biggest investments would be in the production of aluminium and polysilicon.

“These 24 projects will create 20,000 jobs when implemented,” he told reporters after chairing the first meeting of the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya here yesterday.

Recoda spearheads the development, management and promotion of SCORE, and serves as a one-stop agency to facilitate all investment activities within the regional development corridor.

Taib, who is also Recoda chairman, said RM400mil out of the proposed RM2bil had been invested in the halal hub.

A laboratory, he said, would be set up at the hub to conduct scientific works to control the quality of halal products.

He said construction work for the proposed Murum hydroelectric dam project was now underway, and that the tenders for the construction of several access roads to link various proposed hydro dam sites in Rejang basin and northern Sarawak were expected to be awarded later this year.

Murum dam will generate about 900MW to power the energy-intensive industries in SCORE. Sarawak has planned for a dozen hydro dams.

Sarawak approves RM80b investments for Score
By Desmond DavidsonPublished: 2009/06/12




THE Sarawak Regional Economic Development Authority (Recoda) has approved 24 investments worth over RM80 billion for implementation in the state's new economic growth area, the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) over the next five years.

The projects are estimated to generate over 20,000 jobs, excluding preparation of the basic infrastructure and plant site and construction of the factories.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the two biggest projects approved are an aluminium smelter in Mukah and a polysilicon plant in Bintulu.

Press Metal Bhd's aluminium smelter has a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year and is expected to start production in August, with an initial production of 50,000 tonnes per year.





On the Tanjung Manis halal hub, which is projected to draw some RM10 billion in investments, Taib said so far some RM400 million have been invested in the hub that covers an area of 16,000ha.

"This is out of the RM2 billion to be invested (in the hub) in the next five years," he told reporters after chairing Recoda's first meeting in Kuching yesterday.

Construction of the halal hub laboratory is expected to start at the end of this month or early next month.

"I hope by 2013, things would be visible on the ground," Taib said.

Recoda, which manages and promotes the development of Score, has spent about RM1 billion in preparing the authority and providing the basic infrastructure in the corridor since its formation two years ago.

These include manpower planning and training, the building of the Mukah airport, planning and designing of the roads to Baram and Murum, and setting up the industrial parks such as the 6,000ha Similajau industrial park in Bintulu.

Taib said the tender to construct the road to Murum, where a hydroelectric dam is to be built to provide some of the huge amount of energy needed to run the power hungry industries in the corridor, would be out later this year.

He also announced that state secretary Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot would be appointed as the general manager of Recoda when he retires in August.

Recoda on its website states that its primary goal is to create 1.5 million new jobs in Score and drive the state to achieve an average gross domestic product growth of 5.5 per cent per year by 2030.

To achieve that, it projects an investment of RM305 billion over the next 20 years.

R they sure 80 billion? The investment even more than the idr :nuts:

Sarawak to improve highway links to drive Score's growth
By Sharen KaurPublished: 2009/06/13

SARAWAK will spend on highways and roads over the next two years, improving connections between Tanjung Manis, Mukah and Similajau, to beef up investments in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score).

Government spending in the first few years will focus on laying the foundation for Score and attracting investments from the private sectors, Sarawak state planning unit economic adviser Chang Ngee Hui said.

According to the blueprint, Score should see investments amounting to RM334 billion by 2030, with RM267 billion from various industries and RM67 billion from the power sector.

Of the total, 20 per cent of the projects will be government- funded and the rest will involve private investments, Chang said.

The state already has proposals for 24 projects worth RM90 billion in steel, aluminium, glass and polysilicon, oil, food processing and aquaculture, to be implemented over the next five years.

Chang said Sarawak will bank on tourism, timber, palm oil, livestock, aquaculture, aluminium, glass and polysilicon, steel, oil and marine engineering, to drive growth in Score over the next few years.

"We are quite bullish on prospects in Sarawak. This year, we will work on trigger projects in Score to drive upstream and downstream activities and create a supply chain," he said at an investment seminar in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

To catalyse the Score development, Tanjung Manis, Similajau and Mukah were identified as growth centres.

Rio Tinto Alcan, the world's third largest mining group, and Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd are the biggest players in Similajau. Jointly, they will invest in an aluminium smelter worth more than RM8 billion.

Chang said negotiations with a foreign consortium that wants to set up a plant for solar panels in Similajau is still on-going.

In Mukah, one of the biggest investors is Press Metal Bhd, which is building an aluminium smelter in several phases, for up to RM3 billion.

In the power sector, Sarawak Energy Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd will analyse energy options, develop coal potentials and infrastructure worth RM50 billion.

"Private companies can work with Sarawak Energy for job opportunities," Chang said.

Sarawak Energy had signed several memoranda of understanding valued close to RM100 billion, which makes up some 20 per cent of the total private investment already committed to Score.

Score, when fully implemented by 2030, will transform the timber- and energy-rich state into an oil and gas, aluminium, marine engineering and fisheries hub.

Sarawak outlines access plan for energy sites
Saturday June 13, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Roads will be built into the energy sites of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in the first two years, said Sarawak state planning unit adviser Chang Ngee Hui.

Tanjung Manis will be the first area within the corridor that would take off, followed by Samalajuin in the next two to three years, he said.

“The first industries to be set up will be the aluminium smelter and polysilicon industry,” he said.

The halal hub that required at least RM3.5bil in investment would be part of a mid-term plan, he said yesterday after the Seminar on Opportunities in SCORE in conjunction with the International Energy 2009 week.

The corridor stretches 320km along the coast from Tanjung Manis to Similajau and extends to the hinterland.

“Our focus now is on hydro power. We will develop it as long as there is surplus,” said Chang.

Since Sarawak has a 28,000MW production, it would be more efficient to relocate industries there, he said.

Chang said heavy industries to be built will be involved in aluminium smelting, glass, steel, oil-based products and marine engineering.

Other industries that will also be included are those in tourism, palm oil, timber, livestock and aquaculture.

Roads the first step to SCORE
Saturday June 13, 2009

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2009/6/13/nation/n_30chang.jpg

Big plans ahead: Chang (second from right) and AMB Exhibitions Sdn Bhd
president Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee (right) attending the seminar
in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Roads will be built into the energy sites of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in the first two years, said Sarawak state planning unit advisor Chang Ngee Hui.

Tanjung Manis will be the first area within the corridor that would take off, followed by Samalajuin in the next two to three years, he said.

“The first industries to be set up will be the aluminium smelter and polysilicon industry,” he said.

The halal hub that required at least RM3.5bil in investment would be part of a mid-term plan, he said yesterday after the Seminar on Opportunities in SCORE in conjunction with the International Energy 2009 week.

The corridor stretches 320km along the coast from Tanjung Manis to Similajau and extends to the hinterland.

“Our focus now is on hydro power. We will develop it as long as there is surplus,” said Chang.

Since Sarawak has a 28,000MW production, it would be more efficient to relocate industries there, he said.

Chang said heavy industries to be built will be involved in aluminium smelting, glass, steel, oil-based products and marine engineering. Other industries that will also be included are those in tourism, palm oil, timber, livestock and aquaculture.

He said Sarawak would fund 20% of the overall projects while the private sector would pay for the rest.

SCORE has received 24 proposals worth RM90bil but they are subject to approval by the Regional Corridor Development Authority.

Sarawak-based Naim hopes to Score big orders
By Adeline Paul RajPublished: 2009/06/25





NAIM Holdings Bhd (5073), a Sarawak-based construction and property group, said it hoped to at least maintain its 2008 profit this year despite a slower economy because of a growing number of job opportunities in the state.

It aims to replenish its order book by between RM500 million and RM1 billion annually, boosted largely by jobs from within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), its head of corporate affairs Ricky Kho said.

"We are working hard at securing new contracts and hope to be able to secure a couple of hundred million ringgit within this year in the Score region," he told Business Times via email.

Naim's outstanding order book for construction stands at RM2.5 billion now and this should last it for the next three to five years.
Its locked-in property sales, meanwhile, amount to RM223 million and this will be recognised as revenue within the next 12 to 18 months, he said.

Analysts like OSK Research's Jeremy Goh see Naim as a strong contender to land projects in Score, one of five regional development corridors in Malaysia, given its "strong Sarawak links".

"After slow orderbook replenishment in 2008, we now envision a reversal of fortunes for the company going forward. We also understand that some RM200 million worth of jobs are in the pipeline for Naim, which should materialise this year," Goh said in a research report earlier this week.

He said the pace of job flows in the Score region is likely to pick up as there is strong political incentive to accelerate Sarawak's development before the next state election, expected to be held between end-2010 and early 2011.

Targeted investments in Score, totalling RM334 billion over a period of 22 years, are almost equivalent to Iskandar Malaysia's RM382 billion in Johor, he noted.

Basic infrastructure such as roads, bridges and schools are expected to first be put into place.

"Among some of the projects we are bidding for that may materialise this year are housing projects for workers within the Score region. We are also bidding for a number of infrastructure projects," Kho said.

It also plans to do projects abroad, both in Asia and beyond, but has no plans to rush into this as yet.

"We are in no hurry to expose ourselves to overseas risks as there is still plenty of work in Sarawak. We are evaluating a number of overseas infrastructure projects but have not arrived at any decision on any of them," Kho said.

Naim is about to commence work on RM62 million worth of schools and hostels in the state, he added.

Bloomberg data shows that at least three analysts that cover Naim's stock have a "buy" call on it.

One of them, OSK's Goh, said there is "deep value" in the stock and put out a target price of RM2.62.

He, however, expects the company to turn in a lower net profit of RM64.7 million this year, compared with RM80.7 million last year and RM76.3 million in 2007.

Its first quarter net profit this year came in at RM15.8 million, some 25 per cent lower than the same period last year. Its shares, which have gained some 33 per cent this year, rose by 7 sen to RM1.91 yesterday.

SCORE offers bright future, says Wong
By Zora Chan
Sunday, June 28th, 2009

KUCHING: Today and tomorrow’s graduates have a bright future with the development of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) that promises 2.5 million employment opportunities.

These opportunities can be found in oil-based, aluminium-based, metal-based, glass, tourism, palm oil, timber-based, livestock, fishing, aquaculture and marine engineering industries when the corridor realises its full potentials by the year 2030, said Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

“We’re entering an exciting era with the number of jobs projected to increase by two and a half times from 900,000 in 2006 to 2.5 million in 2030,” he said at Institut Eksekutif’s (IE) third graduation and awards ceremony here yesterday.

About 60 students were conferred with diplomas in business administration, civil engineering and quantity surveying.

Wong, who is also Minister of Environment and Public Health, said the state was embarking on rapid development through SCORE that would propel it to achieve developed status in 11 years.

Therefore, he said the government had made all preparations for the challenges ahead, including striking a balance between optimising the state’s natural resources and using them sustainably for posterity.

“The State Planning Unit and the state government have gone into details to draft an agenda for action and we’ll focus on optimal usage of our natural resources for energy intensive industries, bearing in mind on environmental sustainability,” he said.

Wong said since SCORE required more skilled and semi-skilled manpower, the state government had made a provision of RM17 million to build a manpower training centre, which would materialise in a few months time.

The government would be working closely with public and private higher learning institutions to develop new curriculum, facilities and carry out researches in meeting the many requirements of SCORE, he said.

Wong commended IE for continuing to maintain a high standard of education and responding to changing economic needs so that its graduates would be employable.

Meanwhile, IE chief executive officer Tan Cho Yian said the graduation ceremony also marked the launch of the institute’s new logo (formerly using United College Sarawak logo) and rebranding exercise to focus on its niche market.

“With this bold new look logo featuring a sense of innovation and strength, the new identity will inspire us with greater passion to move forward and grow in strength as an education provider,” she said.

She said IE had achieved full accreditation from the Malaysian Qualification Agency for its quantity surveying, civil engineering and business administration programmes, while the Public Services Department recognised IE’s diploma.

“The college has also received the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certification, and through the implementation of the Quality Management System, the quality on the system of teaching, learning and support services are further enhanced,” she said.

Tan said IE would be launching the Liverpool John Moore University collaboration programme for B.Sc. (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management and B.Sc. (Hons) Civil Engineering Studies.

“Under this 12-month programme, IE students will only need to spend a three-month semester in the United Kingdom, and the rest of the programme is conducted locally. The fee for this year’s intake is only 4,000 pounds,” she said.

The Dean’s award went to Jong Siaw Wee who graduated with first class in diploma in quantity surveying. The book prize awards went to Si Kok Leong, Sze Fan Ching and Bernie Poh Tze Siam, while Kenny Ang Cherng Yii received the Institute of Surveyers Malaysia Academic Award.

Time for S’wak to have resettlement ordinance, says Masing
By Puvaneswary Devindran
Saturday, June 27th, 2009

KUCHING: It is timely for Sarawak to have a resettlement ordinance given the development that will take place in Sarawak in the near future.

Land Development Minister Dato Sri James Masing, in supporting the proposal to have a resettlement ordinance for Sarawak yesterday, said there was need for it because resettlement would become one of the major social changes taking place amidst the development taking place in the state.

“Especially so when we have a lot of development coming up like dealing with hydro projects and so on. Resettlement will definitely become a main issue,” he told The Borneo Post at his office here yesterday.

He said the state should have a major ordinance that covers the aspects of development in Sarawak because resettlement was one of the new phenomena that would change Sarawak’s social fabric.

He said as such the enactment of such ordinance should be looked into seriously.

Asked if he would be directly involved in this, he replied: “… I would love to if I’m asked to. That’s what I’ve been trained for.” Masing is an anthropologist by training.

He was asked to comment on a resolution passed during the fifth Orang Ulu cultural seminar which proposed that the state has a resettlement ordinance immediately to deal with the sensitive and complex issues and challenges of involuntary resettlement, taking into consideration the experiences from Batang Ai and Hakun Hydro-electric projects. The seminar resolves that the government prepare urgently a comprehensive resettlement procedures and guidelines based on international equator principles for all stakeholders in the project so that no one is marginalised or made worse in the process.

It also calls on the government to establish a Department of Resettlement to plan, manage and monitor the resettlement exercise and to apply the lessons learned from the Batang Ai and Bakun resettlements aside from asking that the government resettle the people within close vicinity of the dam area instead of relocating them beyond their traditional and customary livelihood areas.

The government was also asked to incorporate in its planning paradigm, elements that provide a much better socio-economic guarantee to the resettled communities to compensate the sacrifices they make for the sake of the development for the state and nation.

Besides, it resolves that the government include the Orang Ulu Association of Sarawak, Malaysia (Forum) to represent the interests of the Orang Ulu communities in any discussions between the people, the authorities and the companies related to the development of the hydro-electric projects and the resettlements.

It also resolves that existing socio-economic problems faced by settlers at Sungai Asap be looked into immediately.

SCORE offers bright future to IE graduates
By Zora Chan
Sunday, June 28th, 2009

KUCHING: Today and tomorrow’s graduates have a bright future with the development of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) that promises 2.5 million employment opportunities.

These opportunities can be found in oil-based, aluminium-based, metal-based, glass, tourism, palm oil, timber-based, livestock, fishing, aquaculture and marine engineering industries when the corridor realises its full potentials by the year 2030, said Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

“We’re entering an exciting era with the number of jobs projected to increase by two and a half times from 900,000 in 2006 to 2.5 million in 2030,” he said at Institut Eksekutif’s (IE) third graduation and awards ceremony here yesterday.

About 60 students were conferred with diplomas in business administration, civil engineering and quantity surveying.

Wong, who is also Minister of Environment and Public Health, said the state was embarking on rapid development through SCORE that would propel it to achieve developed status in 11 years.

Therefore, he said the government had made all preparations for the challenges ahead, including striking a balance between optimising the state’s natural resources and using them sustainably for posterity.

“The State Planning Unit and the state government have gone into details to draft an agenda for action and we’ll focus on optimal usage of our natural resources for energy intensive industries, bearing in mind on environmental sustainability,” he said.

Wong said since SCORE required more skilled and semi-skilled manpower, the state government had made a provision of RM17 million to build a manpower training centre, which would materialise in a few months time.

The government would be working closely with public and private higher learning institutions to develop new curriculum, facilities and carry out researches in meeting the many requirements of SCORE, he said.

Wong commended IE for continuing to maintain a high standard of education and responding to changing economic needs so that its graduates would be employable.

Meanwhile, IE chief executive officer Tan Cho Yian said the graduation ceremony also marked

the launch of the institute’s new logo (formerly using United College Sarawak logo) and rebranding exercise to focus on its niche market.

“With this bold new look logo featuring a sense of innovation and strength, the new identity will inspire us with greater passion to move forward and grow in strength as an education provider,” she said.

She said IE had achieved full accreditation from the Malaysian Qualification Agency for its quantity surveying, civil engineering and business administration programmes, while the Public Services Department recognised IE’s diploma.

“The college has also received the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certification, and through the implementation of the Quality Management System, the quality on the system of teaching, learning and support services are further enhanced,” she said.

Tan said IE would be launching the Liverpool John Moore University collaboration programme for B.Sc. (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management and B.Sc. (Hons) Civil Engineering Studies.

“Under this 12-month programme, IE students will only need to spend a three-month semester in the United Kingdom, and the rest of the programme is conducted locally. The fee for this year’s intake is only 4,000 pounds,” she said.

The Dean’s award went to Jong Siaw Wee who graduated with first class in diploma in quantity surveying. The book prize awards went to Si Kok Leong, Sze Fan Ching and Bernie Poh Tze Siam, while Kenny Ang Cherng Yii received the Institute of Surveyers Malaysia Academic Award.

Mukah Gets RM1.77 Bln For Utility, Infrastructure Projects


MUKAH, July 2 (Bernama) -- Mukah, the administrative headquarters of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), is getting RM1.77 billion worth of investments for utility and infrastructure projects this year.

Second Planning and Resource Management Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the projects comprised a new airport (RM600 million), coal-fired power plant (RM800 million) and aluminium smelting plant (RM370 million).

Work on the new airport and the smelting plant was expected to commence soon, he said when presenting compensation totalling RM924,063 to 121 landowners whose lands were acquired by the government for various development projects here Thursday.

He said the aluminium smelting plant on a 90-hectare site would be operated by Press Metal Sarawak Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of listed Press Metal Berhad.

On the coal-fired station, he said that it was now able to generate about 275 megawatt of power after its first phase of development was completed recently.

"The town's (Mukah) future is going to be very bright. It has a lot of potentials to develop in many sectors," he said adding that private investors too had invested millions into oil palm and sago plantations.

"Score will certainly transform Mukah into a vibrant new and most prominent industrial and investment centre.

"The local people should embrace the many golden opportunities coming their way by getting ready like equipping their children with proper technical skills and qualifications," he said.

Awang Tengah said political unity and stability were other necessary prerequisites as investors would put great premium on such factors when looking for places to invest.

He also advised landowners to be ready to allow their lands to be used for more future projects, saying they would be compensated fairly.

Earlier, Awang Tengah also presented similar compensation totalling RM4.918 million to 526 landowners in Matu near here.



-- BERNAMA

Naim finalising JV details
By JACK WONG


jackwong@thestar.com.my

KUCHING: Naim Holdings Bhd expects to finalise details of a proposed joint-venture housing project with Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corp in Tanjung Manis in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy by the year-end.

Group managing direc tor Datuk Hasmi Hasnan said both parties were working on an agreement based on a recently signed memorandum of understanding.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2009/7/10/business/b_p6Hasmi.jpg
Datuk Hasmi Hasnan (fourth from left) and Naim Holdings executives at the launch of the ‘Zero Defects My Priority’ campaign

“The proposed joint venture will involve the construction of atleast 1,000 affordable houses,’’ he said after the launch of Naim’s “Zero Defects My Priority” campaign at the group’s new Kuching branch premises yesterday.

Hasmi said the group targeted to build 700 houses this year, with an averaage price of RM150,000 a unit.

“Sales of our houses in Miri are still strong,” he said.

Naim has built about 15,000 homes at its flagship development in Bandar Baru Permyjaya in Miri, Desa Ilmu in Kota Samarahan and Riveria satellite township in Kuching’s southern corridor over the past 13 years.

Earlier, Hasmi said Naim would double the defects liability period for all the properties that it developed to 24 months with immediate effect.

Naim, Sarawak’s largest property developer, is believed to be the f irst company in east Malaysia to offer the two-year warranty period.

“Our objective is to deliver the best-quality houses at affordable prices to buyers.

“We will not compromis e on quality and are now aiming for zero-defects in all the properties we develop,” Ha smi said.

He added that Naim had suspended and blacklisted a few of its sub-contractors who failed to deliver quality works

SCORE To Be Most Progressive Area In Sarawak By 2030
July 21, 2009 17:24 PM

SARIKEI, July 21 (Bernama) -- Sarawak regional development corridor or SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) area stretching from Similaju in Bintulu to Tanjung Manis in Mukah is expected to be the most progressive in the state by 2030.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud today said it was capable of attracting investments worth more than RM330 billion.

"The per capita income of people by then is likely to increase five folds from the present.. about RM12,000 in Sarikei," he said when launching a book "Sarikei Moving Toward An Agropolis" at the Civic Centre here.

The function today was part of the state's 45th Independence through Malaysia celebration programmes.

Taib also expressed his confidence in SCORE, saying besides its renewable energy generating potential, it would be equally very successful in agro-based products and food production apart from being the state halal food hub.

"We are blessed with abundant land and water. We are having the human resources now.

"We are also an Islamic country and thus we are very attractive to oil rich Arab investors. We too can exploit the world halal food market, which is going to be very big," he said.

Taib said he had investors coming to invest an initial RM200 million on food production using the most modern technology.

"They also have a programme to invest RM4 billion in five years to come from now," he said.

The government on its part would among others, ensure this halal hub (in Tanjung Manis) is free from pollution, he said.

"We will limit the number of vehicles entering the area daily."

On Sarikei Division, he said about 95 percent of its land could be used for commercial development because of the good road networks.

"It is already generating an income of about RM100 million annually from its agriculture and timber-based industries.

"This is yet to include the income it can generate from commercial oil palm plantations," he said, adding that its Julau and Pakan districts had tremendous potential in the area.

He said Sarikei could become an agropolis with an export oriented economy but the people must adapt themselves by having new mindset beside placing importance on inter-racial unity and co-operation.

-- BERNAMA

SEIA Study On Proposed Murum Project
July 23, 2009 15:51 PM

BINTULU, July 23 (Bernama) -- Sarawak will embark on a Social Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) on the proposed Murum hydroelectric project near Belaga soon, the first of its kind ever to be carried out in the country.

State planning unit's principal assistant director (environment and natural resources) Andrew Tukau Salang said an independent consultant would be appointed to carry out the study.

He said this when presenting a paper on development plans for the state and human rights consideration at a forum, 'Implementing Hydroelectric and Reservoir Dam Projects While Preserving Human Rights and the Environment' here on Thursday.

Organised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), the forum was attended by over 60 participants representing communities affected by dam development projects, non-governmental organisations and several government agencies.

Salang said SEIA's implementation came as another initiative by the government to comply with local and international laws on environmental preservation measures in their development programmes.

Andrew said the study would see social impacts of the project to be covered in greater detail, in addition to prescribed activities, development impacts, environmental assesment and mitigation measures previously included under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

He noted that the study would be an important aspect to the preparation of the Murum hydroelectric project which had been planned to have an installed capacity of 944 MegaWatt (MW) of electricity to meet the energy needs of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) development program.

"The state is determined to make Murum a benchmark for future dam developments and it will be different from the previous projects," he added.

-- BERNAMA

Sarawak serius transformasi ekonomi menerusi SCORE

KUCHING 4 Ogos - Kerajaan negeri serius dalam usaha mentransformasikan ekonomi Sarawak yang berasaskan sektor pengeluaran kepada k-ekonomi menerusi Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (SCORE).

Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata, dalam hal ini Sarawak menyedari perlunya transformasi tersebut agar pertumbuhan ekonomi di negeri ini selari dengan pembangunan di peringkat nasional.

Menurutnya, kerajaan negeri telah mengenal pasti bahawa Sarawak mempunyai kelebihan kekayaan sumber asli yang boleh dibangunkan dan boleh ditambah nilai untuk pertumbuhan serta kemajuan ekonomi di negeri ini.

''Era k-ekonomi yang berasaskan pengeluaran, pengagihan dan penggunaan ilmu pengetahuan serta maklumat adalah sumber penting dalam meningkatkan produktiviti dan pertumbuhan ekonomi di negeri ini.

''Sarawak berterima kasih kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan di atas komitmen dan sokongan terhadap pembangunan di SCORE," katanya ketika berucap pada majlis perasmian Seminar Mengenai Kandungan Pengetahuan Dalam Sektor-Sektor Ekonomi Utama Malaysia Fasa II di sini hari ini.

Hadir sama Ketua Pengarah Unit Perancangan Ekonomi, Datuk Noriyah Ahmad.

Dalam pada itu, Abdul Taib berkata, pembangunan di SCORE akan memastikan potensi sumber asli Sarawak boleh dioptimumkan dalam usaha mencapai status negeri maju pada tahun 2020.

Katanya, industri-industri yang dibangunkan serta dipromosikan di wilayah SCORE adalah sektor yang memberi nilai tambah di peringkat global.

Bagaimanapun tambahnya, industri-industri berkenaan memerlukan kepakaran yang tinggi dan tenaga kerja yang berpengetahuan luas.

''Wilayah SCORE merupakan model ekonomi baru kepada Sarawak untuk mencapai ke arah status pendapatan ekonomi yang tinggi sejajar dengan agenda pembangunan negara.

''Sehubungan itu, kerajaan negeri akan terus membangunkan serta mengukuhkan keupayaan tenaga manusia di Sarawak berasaskan pengetahuan," ujarnya.

Jangan serius sangat ...nanti sampai jadi tak makan tak minum! :lol:

Sarawak targets China as corridor investor
Published: 2009/08/07

SARAWAK has identified four industries to attract investors from China to invest in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the potential industries for the investors were aluminium, pulp and paper, deep-sea fishing and food, particularly halal food products.

"For the aluminium industry, we can see more downstream activities that could be ventured into," he said when opening the Sarawak-China Business Forum here today.

Taib said with the aluminium smelter plant located in Mukah, one of the areas under SCORE, many related business ventures could benefit and hopefully provide a boost to the state's aluminium industry.

He said that Sarawak was also keen to tap China's expertise in the pulp and paper industry which had seen tremendous developments in the past five years in the country.

"Using China's technology in the paper and pulp industry which is far more advanced will give more benefits," he said.

For deep-sea fishing, Taib said that Sarawak's fisheries industry was still largely untapped, especially in the Tanjung Manis area.

SCORE is one of the five regional development corridors being developed throughout the country.

Located within Sarawak's Central Region, it stretches for 320 kilometres along the coast from Tanjung Manis to Similajau and extends into the surrounding areas and the hinterland.

Core of the corridor is the energy resources, particularly hydropower (28,000 megawatts), coal (1.46 billion tonnes), and natural gas (40.9 trillion square cubic feet), which are found abundantly within the region. - BERNAMA

Teroka peluang pelaburan SCORE

Oleh MUHAMAD ZAID ADNAN
zaid.adnan@utusan.com.my

KUCHING 7 Ogos - Ahli-ahli perniagaan China dijemput meneroka peluang pelaburan dalam empat industri yang terdapat di Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (SCORE).

Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata, industri yang berpotensi untuk diteroka pelabur berkenaan ialah aluminium, pulpa dan kertas, perikanan laut dalam serta makanan halal yang terdapat di kawasan berkenaan.

Katanya, keempat-empat projek berkenaan mampu menawarkan pasaran yang bernilai berbilion ringgit kepada pelabur berkenaan.

''Bagi membantu industri-industri berkenaan beroperasi, kita sedang membangunkan pembinaan beberapa empangan hidro bagi penghasilan tenaga elektrik yang murah termasuk sistem pengangkutan seperti pembinaan landasan kereta api menghubungkan kawasan SCORE," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian semasa merasmikan Forum Perniagaan Sarawak-China di sini hari ini.

SCORE adalah antara lima koridor pembangunan serantau yang sedang dibangunkan di negara ini.

Terletak di wilayah tengah Sarawak, SCORE meliputi kawasan seluas 320 kilometer di sepanjang kawasan pantai di Tanjung Manis hingga Similajau dan kawasan sekelilingnya dan pedalaman.

Abdul Taib memberitahu, industri aluminium yang ketika ini menggunakan kepakaran China dikenal pasti mampu meningkatkan jumlah dagangan di antara Sarawak dan China yang ketika ini mencecah jumlah RM6 bilion.

Katanya, Sarawak juga berminat meneroka kepakaran China dalam industri pulpa dan kertas yang sudah dibangunkan dengan pesat sejak lima tahun lepas di negara ini.

Beliau berkata, bagi perikanan laut dalam pula industri perikanan Sarawak masih belum diteroka sepenuhnya terutamanya di kawasan Tanjung Manis.

''Selain itu, produk makanan halal juga mampu menawarkan pasaran yang bernilai tinggi kepada para pelabur," katanya.

Proposed Score railway to be ready by 2015

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


DAMAI: The proposed rapid railway system (RRS) for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) is expected to be in place by 2015 to complement the development of its halal hub and deep-sea fishing industry, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday.

He said the project’s feasibility study would also take into consideration the development of the Similajau deep-sea port in Bintulu to connect the 320km regional corridor in the state’s central region up to Tanjung Manis in Mukah division.

“It is our ambition to connect the whole of Score by a railway corridor before 2030 to cut down on transportation time,” Taib told reporters after officiating at the opening of the three-day parliamentary discourse on government entitled “Scenario Planning and Change Management: Managing Score and the Future”.

However, Taib said, a detailed feasibility study needed to be conducted first as such a railway network would be costly to develop due to the region’s topography, including the soft soil of the Batang Rajang delta.

Earlier in his speech, Taib said about RM9 billion would be spent on infrastructure development in Score, which was projected to attract more than RM300 billion worth of investments in the next 30 years.

He was confident that Score, which was expected to create 1.5 million jobs by 2030, would present immense opportunities and challenges in transforming Sarawak and ensuring that its economic spin-off effects would give the people a sense of fair distribution in income.

The location of the state’s vast natural resources for renewable energy, including hydro and coal within Score, justified the development of the 70,000-sq-km corridor, which had the potential to attract heavy industries such as aluminium smelter plants, he said. — Bernama

how will the train looks like? Are the coach looks like present locomotive?:)

how will the train looks like? Are the coach looks like present locomotive?:)

still not yet design since they planned for the future only!
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=929008

Tokuyama ups investment in Sarawak
Published: 2009/08/12



Japan's Tokuyama Corp, a silicon maker, will invest about 30 per cent more than planned in a Sarawak plant that will make silicon for solar power panels.

It plans to spend 65 billion yen or about RM2.36 billion, an increase from its initial investment plan of 50 billion yen (RM1.8 billion) announced last November.

The new factory will be built at the Samalaju Industrial Park in Sarawak, the company said in a statement to the Tokyo Stock Exchange and another statement to the media yesterday.

"Construction of the new factory is scheduled to commence early in 2011 and the beginning of operations is scheduled for spring 2013," it said.

The factory, sited on a 200ha site, will have an annual production capacity of 6,000 tonnes. Tokuyama plans to produce polycrystalline silicon for solar cells. Solar cells transform sunlight into electric power.

The group expects strong demand for polycrystalline silicon for solar cells in the long term although it is weak now due to the global recession.

As preparation, it will set up Tokuyama Malaysia Sdn Bhd in Sarawak this month. Tokuyama Malaysia will have about 300 people for a start, 280 of them Malaysians.

So far, Tokuyama has manufactured and sold polycrystalline silicon mainly for semiconductors and the Tokuyama Factory (Shunan City, Yamaguchi) has been its only manufacturing base.

"By mass-producing polycrystalline silicon at the two manufacturing bases of the Tokuyama Factory and the Malaysian facility, Tokuyama will maintain its presence in the industry by focusing on getting new customers in addition to retaining existing ones," it added.

It chose Sarawak because the making of polycrystalline silicon needs a lot of electricity, water, quality workers, and other resources.

Such resources are available at the Samalaju Industrial Park.

The industrial park also offers preferential tax treatment, support for acquisition of permits and licences provided by the federal and state government.

Sembilan projek SCORE dilaksana dalam RMK10
Oleh Abang Ismail Abang Su’ud
Friday, August 14th, 2009

Pembinaan jalan, bekalan air dan taman perindustrian RM1.5b, lapangan terbang baru Mukah RM900j

BINTULU: Kementerian Kewangan mengenal pasti sembilan projek di bawah Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (SCORE) yang bakal dilaksanakan dalam Rancangan Malaysia Ke-sepuluh (RMK10).

Ketua Setiausaha Perbendaharaan Kementerian Kewangan, Tan Sri Dr Wan Abdul Aziz Abdullah berkata, sembilan projek itu ialah membina jalan akses ke tapak Empangan Murum Kapit, jalan akses ke tapak Empangan Baram Miri, jalan akses ke tapak Empangan Baleh Kapit, dua projek pembinaan Jalan Tunoh Kapit, jalan akses ke tapak Empangan Limbang, bekalan air Sama-laju, Taman Perindustrian Samalaju dan lapangan terbang baru Mukah.

“Pembinaan jalan termasuk bekalan air serta taman perindustrian tersebut memakan kos RM1.5 bilion, manakala pembinaan lapangan terbang Mukah pula mencecah kos RM900 juta,” ujarnya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang media selepas menghadiri taklimat mengenai projek-projek SCORE yang disampaikan oleh Pengurus Besar Lembaga Kemajuan Bintulu (BDA), Mohidin Ishak di Wisma Bintulu BDA, petang semalam.

Wan Abdul Aziz berkata, lawatan beliau semalam bertujuan untuk melihat dengan lebih dekat pelaksanaan projek-projek di bawah SCORE yang telah dikenal pasti terbabit menerusi Pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi Satu dan Dua.

“(Lawatan ini) seperti mana lawatan yang dilakukan pada bulan Jun lalu di Kuching, Sri Aman dan Batang Air mengenai projek-projek di kawasan terbabit yang dimaklumkan oleh Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang,” jelasnya.

Beliau berkata, atas dasar itu Kementerian Kewangan berjanji untuk memantau dengan lebih dekat projek-projek di Bintulu dan Miri di bawah SCORE, sekali gus melihat pelaksanaan dan kemajuannya.

“Selain itu, melalui lawatan sebegini kita juga ingin mengenal pasti apa jua masalah serta halangan dalam projek tersebut yang telah disediakan peruntukan. Jika ada (masalah), ia seterusnya akan dibawa ke Kementerian Kewangan di Putrajaya untuk ditangani,” jelasnya.

“Bagaimanapun, kita berharap projek-projek yang dikenal pasti dan telah di- beri peruntukan terbabit dapat dilaksanakan dengan cepat.”

Katanya, ini untuk me- mastikan kesan aktiviti ekonomi di kawasan terbabit dapat dipertingkatkan sekali gus akan bergerak dengan lebih lancar.

Dalam perkembangan lain, selepas menghadiri taklimat mengenai perkembangan dan pelaksanaan projek SCORE selama lebih kurang dua jam, Wan Abdul Aziz dan ahli-ahli rombongan yang terdiri daripada para pegawai dari Kementerian Kewangan melawat kawasan petempatan setinggan di Tanjung Kidurong lewat petang semalam.

Sabah keen on Halal Park


KOTA KINABALU: Entrepreneurs may soon have another avenue to invest in Sabah should a proposed Halal Park near the city become a reality.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said that the Sabah government was looking at establishing the Halal Park to be sited near the Sepanggar Bay port.

“The proximity to the port will enable easier exports of products from the Halal Park, especially to nearby countries making up the East Asean Growth Area,” he said when opening the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) office building at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, near here, recently.

Earlier in his speech, Musa called on FSM to collaborate with the State Industrial Development Ministry to make the Halal Park a success.

He said FSM and the ministry could form a collaboration to identify the right training courses to efficiently and effectively manage the Halal Park.

Musa said FSM should look into opportunities in research and focus on training youths in specialised skills needed for the manufacturing sector.

Earlier, FSM president Datuk Wong Khen Thau said the federation would be setting up an Institute of Technology to complement the state government’s efforts in human resource training and development.

“In the pipeline also is an initiative to train and groom small- and medium-scale entreprises to adopt the modern approach of entrepreneurship in line with globalisation and to enhance their potential to expand and compete in the international market,” he said.

Wong said FSM would work closely with the Industrial Development Ministry to develop and promote the Halal Park in the state.

Manufacturing investments in Sarawak top RM7b
By Nancy Nais Published: 2009/08/19

ALMOST half of Malaysia's approved investments in the manufacturing sector so far this year went to Sarawak, reflecting the state's appeal among investors.

The resource-rich state received RM7.3 billion, or 46 per cent of the total. A quarter was from local companies, while the rest were from foreign firms, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapha Mohamad.

"The approval for the first six months indicates a strong participation by foreign investors in the manufacturing sector in Sarawak, particularly in capital intensive industries such as chemical, metal and wood products," he said at the launch of Sarawak Investment and Trade Dialogue and Seminar on Manufacturing and Service Sector in Kuching yesterday.

Apart from being rich with oil, gas and timber, Sarawak is also expected to have large hydro power plants, thanks to its rivers.

The biggest is the 2,400- megawatt Bakun station that is being built now.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan in his opening address said despite the global uncertainty, the state's economy managed to record 5 per cent growth last year.

"Our state economic growth rate is above the national growth of 4.6 per cent, and the growth in our manufacturing sector remained strong at 5.3 per cent," Chan said.

Chan strongly believe that Sarawak will remain as an attractive destination given the conducive environment, positive socio-economic growth and stable political scenario.

On the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) development, Chan said the state government had earmarked 10 priority industries that include aluminum, steel and agriculture.

Chan said Score could provide a platform and synergy for the development of more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by opening up various opportunities for expansion and development.

"In Sarawak, we would like to see the SMEs become important, supporting industries in major manufacturing clusters. The SMEs are strongly encouraged to establish links with large industries as suppliers of products and services," he added.

NREB’s environ database system first in region
By Zora Chan Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

http://www.theborneopost.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/000050380.jpg

MILESTONE: Penguang (second right) presents a memento to Wong. Also
seen are state environment director Ismail Ithnin (right) and Ministry of
Environment and Public Health permanent secretary Ganie Ugay.
— Photo by Johnathan Bullet

KUCHING: The Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) yesterday launched its GeoEnviron Database System (GE) — the first and only inter-agency common environmental database management in Southeast Asia.

Environment and Public Health Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, who officiated at the launching, said GE would definitely boost environmental protection and management, which formed an important part of the state’s development agenda.

“The GE will be an effective planning tool for the state regional development corridor, Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), to ensure that the development will conform to local and international requirements,” he said.

Wong, who is also Second Finance Minister, said among others, the system is able to model environmental performance by taking into consideration past, current and future development activities, to project or predict future environmental conditions.

“Having this information, the state government will be able to plan development activities to avoid serious environmental degradation and opt for the best development scheme for better environmental management performance,” he said.

Wong explained that GE allowed environmental data to be acquired immediately as the system is always online and, therefore, there would be no hiccups in data flow between agencies.

NREB controller Dr Penguang Manggil added the system was server-based, allowing different user agencies to be connected to a centralised data bank with the board as the ‘host’ or ‘lead’ agency.

“As a Relational Database Management System, it is currently linked to 13 state agencies and the federal Department of Environment,” said Penguang.

He said GE could be used to interpret and analyse a wide range of environmental data such as recipient and ambient environmental quality like water quality, water intake points, soil borehole and air quality for rivers and water catchment areas; pollution sources like landfills, industries, food outlets, livestock, sewage treatment plants and plantations; as well as environmental approval and case management including environmental impact assessment, open burning applications, complaints and enforcement.

He said it could also generate environmental status or performance and hence be used as a very useful decision-making tool for holistic environmental planning and management approaches.

“This system, when fully integrated with the Geospatial database, is capable of direct communication with the Geographic Information System (GIS) application,” said Penguang.

He added that GE had been running for about a year and since then, had made progress in capacity building of users, data updating, case management and reporting.

He thanked the state government for approving RM1.8 million to kick-start the implementation of the system statewide over a period of two years — from the middle of last year to the middle of next year.

“The GE, being the first and only inter-agency common environmental database management system in Malaysia as well as in SEA, is a major step forward in enhancing our environmental database, in line with the modernisation and globalisation processes and the advancement in ICT,” he said.

This indonesian guy sick.. so pity

Tg Manis hub to produce RM5b of halal products yearly
By Jack Wong


jackwong@thestar.com.my

KUCHING: The halal hub in Tanjung Manis in central Sarawak will be able to produce RM5bil worth of halal products a year in the next five to 10 years.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said a wide range of products would be manufactured for the export markets.

“The halal hub will produce products from palm oil. We can encourage the palm oil industry to widen its product range,’’ he added when opening the Sarawak Investment and Trade dialogue and seminar yesterday.

Halal Industry Development Corp Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Jamil Bidin was reported to have said recently that the Tanjung Manis halal park had attracted some RM9bil in investments from 11 companies, of which six are Taiwanese.

These companies would venture into aquaculture, biotechnology and modern farming.

Taib said he would perform the earth-breaking ceremony for the proposed biotechnology laboratory project in the halal hub, located within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), later this year.

He said the state had to train a pool of knowlegeable manpower to undertake research and development activities in the hub.

Taib said the state authorities were now carrying out a manpower study to ensure there was no mismatch in manpower training and the jobs required in SCORE.

He said the setting up of energy-intensive industries, like aluminium smelters, in SCORE, would facilitiate the development of related downstream industries which the small and medium enterprises could venture into.

He said Sarawak should be able to produce another 5,000MW of electricity from hydro dams by 2020.

‘’We can add another 20,000MW from hydro and coal resources by 2030,’’ he added. Sarawak is now developing the 900MW Murum hydro dam project.

It plans to develop a dozen other hydro dams, most of them in the upper reaches of the Rejang River basin.

SCORE lonjakekonomi rakyat
MIRI 1 Sept. - Koridor Pembaharuan Tenaga Sarawak (SCORE) akan menjadi satu lonjakan besar untuk memperbaiki dan meningkatkan ekonomi rakyat dalam mencapai Wawasan 2020.

Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam berkata, tanpa pelaburan di koridor itu, Sarawak pasti sukar untuk bersaing dengan negeri-negeri lain di Semenanjung Malaysia.

''Kita perlu serius melakukan lonjakan besar ini dan koridor ini memberi jalan istimewa kepada kita," katanya menambah koridor itu juga membantu meningkatkan pendapatan rakyat melalui peluang-peluang pekerjaan yang ditawarkan.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika merasmikan Program Keperluan Latihan Tenaga Kerja untuk SCORE di Universiti Teknologi Curtin kampus Sarawak di sini baru-baru ini.

Hong Nam memberitahu, Sarawak perlu mengukuhkan sumber ekonominya dan tahap pendapatan rakyat dalam tempoh 10 tahun lagi untuk membolehkannya mencapai status negeri membangun.

Katanya, kerjasama antara industri juga cara terbaik untuk menguatkan tahap pengeluaran dan perkhidmatan sekali gus membentuk industri yang berdaya saing.

Selain itu, rakyat juga perlu mempraktikkan sekali gus menguasai kemahiran dan teknologi moden agar mereka dapat terlibat dalam industri-industri baru yang dibangunkan melalui koridor itu.

''Dengan adanya kemahiran, rakyat layak menikmati pendapatan yang lebih tinggi. Kesannya taraf kehidupan mereka akan menjadi lebih baik," jelasnya.

Tentang program tersebut, Hong Nam yang juga Pengerusi Majlis Universiti Teknologi Curtin kampus Sarawak berharap ia akan membantu kerajaan negeri melahirkan lebih ramai sumber tenaga mahir untuk keperluan koridor.

Kerajaan, katanya, menyumbang sejumlah RM3.7 juta kepada Universiti Teknologi Curtin untuk perlaksanaan program berkenaan melalui pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi.

Developing Kapit by way of SCORE: Taib
Friday, September 4th, 2009

KAPIT: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud says this division is very challenging to develop but through integrated development in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) some RM2 billion has been set aside to bring development, including roads, here.

Speaking at a gathering of about 1,000 people at Jabal An-Nur Mosque here Wednesday evening, he said that several development projects were already in the planning stages and several had in fact already taken off. Among them were the hydroelectric dams in Bakun, Murum, Baleh and maybe Pelagus in the future.

The gathering was the breaking of fast, which was participated by Muslims and non-Muslims alike here.

According to a briefing note distributed to the press during the function, some 160km access roads would be built in the division under SCORE, mainly to connect Baleh and Murum dams to the main road, apart from Tunoh and Sanggan/Nanga Merit/Kapit roads.

Tender for the proposed access road to Murum closed on Aug 17.

Taib went to say that the mid-Rejang basin had huge potential for development, but lamented that Kapit was still far behind in development all because of the difficult terrain.

“I have talked to the federal government and it agreed to develop Kapit in an integrated manner through SCORE. We cannot afford to let the people here and Belaga to (forever) migrate to bigger towns seeking greener pastures. We have to keep them here, or better still, attract other people to come here so that together we can develop this division.”

He also said that this division had huge tracts of land suitable for commercial agriculture like the planting of oil palm, and pulp and paper. This would help to generate more employment opportunities for the local people.

“There are many big companies willing to form joint ventures with the local people to develop their idle land for commercial agriculture.”

He, however, reminded the local people to get themselves ready for the many big and good things coming their way or else they would be left out while ‘outsiders’ reap the benefits.

Later at the gathering, he handed over RM50,000 government grant to the chairman of Lembaga Amanah Khairat Islam Kapit, Pemanca Badi Nuawi.

He presented cash assistance to 98 elderly people from Kpg Baru and Kpg Muhibbah Bletih. He also presented a personal donation (RM3,000) to the families of the recent boat-capsize victims.

Taib left for Kuching at 9am yesterday.

Among those present at the gathering were Minister of Land Development Dato Sri Dr James Masing, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, Assistant Minister of Rural Development Datuk Ambrose Blikau, Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi, Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo, head of Majlis Islam Sarawak Datu Putit Matzen, director of Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak Datu Misnu Taha, assemblymen Liwan Lagang (Belaga), Abu Seman (Jemoreng), John Sikie Tayai (Kakus), Resident Dahim Nadot, Walikota Philimon Nuing, senior government officers and community leaders.

High SCORE for Murum
By Rintos Mail Sunday, September 6th, 2009

The dam project is the first in Sarawak and probably Malaysia that complies fully with the Social and Environment Impact Assessment (SEIA) International Standard

PROPONENTS say when fully operational, the Murum Dam in Belaga District will generate much-needed power to meet the state’s growing energy demands, especially within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

They maintain the project will bring numerous direct and indirect spinoffs, among them widespread income improvement, welfare, food security and employment, all leading to a reduction in poverty.

Other benefits include improved health conditions, aquaculture, improved access to markets via roads and recreation.

Detractors, however, blame the proposed dam for destroying ecosystems, reducing aquatic biodiversity and forcing the displacement of people.

State environment advisor Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit refutes such a claim, saying: “It’s is not true, especially in modern days, when any major development involved foreign direct investments (FDI) must comply with the Social and Environment Impact Assessment (SEIA) International Standard.

According to him, the state has set up its SEIA steering and working committee, of which he is chairman, to ensure all the requirements under the International Standard are complied with.

The SEIA is a process to identify, predict and assess the type and scale of potential biodiversity impacts, and opportunities to benefit conservation associated with any business activities or projects.

It also includes screening, scoping (public consultation), baseline studies, impact prediction and evaluation, mitigation, consideration alternatives, social and environment management plan and environment impact statement.

Dawos, who is MP for Mambong, said all these guidelines had been met.

He revealed that the Murum Dam is the first project in Sarawak and probably also Malaysia that complies fully with the SEIA.

“We are monitoring the progress of the dam and continuing to hold dialogues with the affected people to find out their needs and preferences.

“I can assure that our SEIA policy adheres to the international regulations and norms agreed to within the Equator Principals (EP),” he added.

The Equator Principals are a set of environmental and social benchmarks for global management of environmental and social issues in the financing of development projects.

The principals were developed by private banks — led by Citigroup, ABN AMRO, Barclays and WestLB — and launched in June 2003.

The banks chose to model the EP on the environmental standards of the World Bank and the social policies of the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Several financial institutions in April 2008 had adopted the principles that have become the de facto standards for banks and investors to assess major development projects around the world.

Banks that implement the principals will not provide loans to projects where the borrower will not or is unable to comply with their respective social and environmental policies and procedures.

He said the committee had been going to the ground to see the progress of the dam and meet the people in the affected longhouses with the latest visit being last week when the committee held dialogues with the Penans from two longhouses — Long Wat and Long Malim — which are among the six affected by the dam. The others are Long Luar, Long Tanggau, Long Singu and Long Menapa.

The six longhouses have 201 doors for 207 families, and a total population of about 1,000 or about 31 per cent of the total Penan population in Belaga District.

According to Dawos, the Penans in Long Wat and Long Malim have accepted development in their area and do not mind being resettled but it must be at their preferred place.

“Even our displacement process must comply with the SEIA to resettle the affected people to places of their choice.

“Long Wat has identified an area in Tegulan for the Penans’ new home. In the meantime, we are trying to find the best alternative so that the government can deliver the necessary infrastructure and facilities to the affected population.”

Dawos said during the latest dialogues in Long Wat and Long Malim, the Penans had requested for schools, clinics, education funds, government administration facilities (especially the Agriculture Department), churches, water, electricity and compensation for their land, crops and properties.

He pointed out that presently, there wasn’t even a school in the area. And to go to school, the Penan children there have to travel to Sungai Asap, about five to six hours drive on logging road.

“We hope by building schools and bringing in other necessary infrastructure, facilities and utilities, we will be able to eradicate poverty in the area.

“We will be holding dialogues with other affected longhouses to know their requests. After meeting with every longhouse, I will submit my report to the State Cabinet for the necessary action and implementation,” he said.

The Murum dam is located in Sungai Murum, a tributary of Batang Balui, in Belega District, Kapit Division. It is formed by the confluence of Sungai Plieran and Sungai Danum, some eight km upstream of the dam site.

The Murum River catchment area at the dam site is about 2,750 sq km, extending to the border with Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The Murum dam is a 146m high roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam with a crest length of 473m, a reservoir with surface area of 245 sq km and a total storage capacity of 12,043 million cubic metres. On completion, it is anticipated to generate 900mw of electrical power.

This will be required to meet the load demands from the aluminum smelter plants and other energy-intensive industries that have shown keen interest in setting up plants in the state, particularly within SCORE.

The project is largely an effort of Sarawak Energy Berhad aimed at utilising part of the available renewable hydropower potentials of Sarawak.

Sarawak Corridor Manpower Participants Complete Training
September 11, 2009 18:43 PM

MIRI, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- The first batch of trainees under the government's Manpower Training Requirement Programme for the Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy (SCORE) have completed their training at Curtin University of Technology Sarawak campus (Curtin Sarawak) here.

The 125 trainees, comprising project managers, engineers, technical supervisors and technicians of locally-based companies, received their certificates from Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan at a ceremony to mark the completion of their three-day training.

Curtin Sarawak, in a statement on Friday, said the training programme was part of a series of structured manpower training programmes being carried out throughout the country under the National Stimulus Package 2009 to progress the nation's capacity-building, knowledge acquisition and skills development.

-- BERNAMA

UiTM Tie-Up With Foreign Varsities To Help Provide Suitable Workforce For Score
September 23, 2009 17:13 PM

KUCHING, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak will team up with foreign universities, including those from Indonesia, to offer medical and integrated agriculture programmes to help provide suitable workforce for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score).

Its director, Prof Madya Dr Jamil Hamali, said UiTM was expected to sign memoranda of understanding with the universities involved in Bogor and Bandung by year-end.

"In modern agriculture, UiTM will tap the (Indonesian) expertise for its Kota Samarahan campus which is equipped with a research laboratory while our top students are expected to further their studies in Indonesia various levels," he told reporters at his Hari Raya open house here on Wednesday.

He said although UiTM has a medical faculty, the number of places was limited and the cooperation with foreign universities would help give local students another opportunity to pursue the course overseas after obtaining the science diploma from UiTM.

"In a move to help the state government, UiTM Sarawak will also offer programmes to help in project implementation under Score, including pharmacy as well as chemical, civil and electrical engineering," he said.

Dr Jamil said UiTM Sarawak would build another campus on 200-hectare site in Mukah given by the state governement to provide educational opportunities for Bumiputeras in Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Limbang and Belaga.

"The second campus in Mukah, which is situated in the Score area, currently has 300 students pursuing plantation industry course," he said.

He said UiTM Sarawak also planned to build a new campus opposite the current Kota Samarahan branch to accommodate 10,000 students by 2015.

UiTM Sarawak, which offers 23 different courses, currently has 5,000 students.

-- BERNAMA

Take jobs in SCORE, graduates in Sarawak urged
Sunday, October 4th, 2009

SIBU: Environment and Public Health Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh yesterday called on graduates in Sarawak to take jobs in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Speaking at the convocation of Rimbunan Hijau Academy at a leading hotel here, he said in the next five years, foreign investments in SCORE would give rise to many job opportunities.

For example, he said, the country would need up to 200,000 engineers alone to become an industrialised nation by 2020.

“In Sarawak, the economic growth and the vast job and business opportunities will come mainly from SCORE, launched last year as one of five major growth areas in the country.”

Wong, who is Second Finance Minister, said the GDP growth of the country this year had been forecasted at 1 per cent.

“In 2006, the GDP was RM25.8 billion. By 2030, it is estimated to be RM115 billion. In 2006, the job opportunities were 900,000 and in 2030, 2.5 million.”

He said since independence 52 years ago, Malaysia had made conspicuous progress in agriculture, industry, infrastructure, information technology, research and development.

“This has transformed us from being a country with an agricultural-based economy to that of a production economy (p-economy).

“We are now moving up the value chain by transforming from p-economy to knowledge economy or k-economy.” Wong added.

He said transformation to the next stage would bring about a significant change and an improvement in the quality of life of the people, but, as change was never easy, there would be challenges and issues along the way.

Wong said Malaysia’s role and destiny in the world would depend on the quality of its human resources.

Thus, he said, there was a need to redefine the education system to help the nation focus on training its human resource.

He said countries like Germany and Japan had been successful in this, and an example of their success was their production of world-renowned Mercedes Benz and Toyota vehicles.

He said a study by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development had indicated that Malaysia was the 14th most attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI).

“To ensure that we remain competitive, our young people must be adequately trained to meet the job market demand.

“This will not only give employers a pool of skilled and trained work force, but also ensure job opportunities for our youths,” he said.

Polytech for Betong
Wednesday October 7, 2009

BETONG (Sarawak): A polytechnic proposed to be set up here soon will enable students to acquire technical skills and knowledge for jobs in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said the polytechnic would offer students from Sri Aman, Betong, Saratok and Sarikei a chance to pursue higher education.

“It will also provide about 1,000 job opportunities for locals, including lecturers,” he said when launching a women’s association at Rumah Anti in Saka near here recently.

He said the polytechnic, expected to take off under the 10th Malaysia Plan on a 160ha site here, had been approved by the Government.

Jabu also commended the women’s association for making a positive impact at the site.

He said that seven similar associations had been established in the Betong area in Saka, Penurin, Suri, Tanjong, Serudit, Skrang and Entanak.

He said that government grants of RM21,000 for the seven associations and RM16,200 for Rumah Anti had been approved while the road fronting the longhouse would be repaired.

On agricultural development, Jabu said the Integrated Rural Agriculture Development project to plant rubber trees would be carried out by early next year near the longhouse.

A mat and pua kumbu weaving contest would also be held next year, he said. — Bernama

Bosnia-Herzegovina Eyes Business Potential In SCORE


KUCHING, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Bosnia-Herzegovina is keen to tap the potential of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in the areas of developing and exporting the energy industry, its Ambassador to Malaysia Ensar Eminovic said on Monday.

Eminovic said Bosnia-Herzegovina has the expertise and experience in terms of human resources in the energy industry and believed it could share a common synergy to enhance the bilateral relationship.

"The war that ended in 1995 had destroyed the infrastructure in our energy sector but we still have our human resources and we believe we can start from there," he said at a media briefing on "Malaysia Global Business Forum -- Bosnia Herzegovina" here.

The forum will be held from Nov 8 to 11, 2009, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to be a keynote speaker.

SCORE is one of the five regional development corridors being developed throughout the country.

It is located within Sarawak's Central Region, stretching for 320 kilometres along the coast from Tanjung Manis to Similajau and extending into the surrounding areas and the hinterland.

Core of the corridor is the energy resources, particularly hydropower (28,000 megawatts), coal (1.46 billion tonnes), and natural gas (40.9 trillion square cubic feet) found abundantly within the Central Region with the Regional Economic Development Authority (RECODA) given the task to ensure its success.

RECODA is the body to manage and implement SCORE. Its main goal is to ensure the success of SCORE by 2030 by creating 1.5 million new jobs and achieving an average gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth of 5.5 per cent per annum.

Eminovic said apart from energy sector, the creation of a halal hub in Tanjung Manis in Sarawak had attracted attention as Bosnia-Herzegovina wanted to set up a similar hub to capture the lucrative halal markets in the European countries.

He said that halal products have enjoyed a brisk sales in European countries not only among Muslim consumers but also non-Muslim consumers due to its strict hygenic standards.

-- BERNAMA

Sarawak To Focus On Infrastructure Development


KUCHING, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Sarawak will focus on infrastructure development, especially within the Sarawak Corridior of Renewable Energy (Score), based on 20-year expansion plan.

This follows an assurance given by the federal government to provide equitable development for the state, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said on Monday.

Commenting on the assurance given Datuk Seri Najib Tun Najib during the launch of the Malaysia Day celebrations in conjunction with the nation's 52nd independence anniversary here on Saturday, Taib said he was happy that the prime minister understood Sarawak's position well.

He said that Najib was always informed about what's going on in Sarawak, adding that he was "very happy" that he wanted to give attention to Sarawak.

Taib was speaking to reporters after attending a Hari Raya open house, organised by the Sarawak Federal Secretary's Office at the Kuching Federal Complex here.

He said infrastructure development would be given priority as it incurred high costs, besides covering a wide territory leading to the site of the hydro-electric dams and involved logistics, including ports at Samalaju and Tanjung Manis.

However, Taib said, the state government would push for allocation until all projects under the 10th Malaysia Plan, which starts next year, were completed as the private sector helped to provide funds, including a US$1 billion allocation.

The allocation comes from a Middle East nation for the county's development, half of which is meant for Sarawak.

Earlier, at another Hari Raya open house by the Kuching City North Hall here, Taib, who is also state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, congratulated Najib for the BN victory in the Bagan Pinang state by-election yesterday.

The by-election saw Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad beat Zulkefly Mohamad Omar of PAS.

-- BERNAMA

Sarawak To Focus On Infrastructure Development


KUCHING, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Sarawak will focus on infrastructure development, especially within the Sarawak Corridior of Renewable Energy (Score), based on 20-year expansion plan.

This follows an assurance given by the federal government to provide equitable development for the state, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said on Monday.

Commenting on the assurance given Datuk Seri Najib Tun Najib during the launch of the Malaysia Day celebrations in conjunction with the nation's 52nd independence anniversary here on Saturday, Taib said he was happy that the prime minister understood Sarawak's position well.

He said that Najib was always informed about what's going on in Sarawak, adding that he was "very happy" that he wanted to give attention to Sarawak.

Taib was speaking to reporters after attending a Hari Raya open house, organised by the Sarawak Federal Secretary's Office at the Kuching Federal Complex here.

He said infrastructure development would be given priority as it incurred high costs, besides covering a wide territory leading to the site of the hydro-electric dams and involved logistics, including ports at Samalaju and Tanjung Manis.

However, Taib said, the state government would push for allocation until all projects under the 10th Malaysia Plan, which starts next year, were completed as the private sector helped to provide funds, including a US$1 billion allocation.

The allocation comes from a Middle East nation for the county's development, half of which is meant for Sarawak.

Earlier, at another Hari Raya open house by the Kuching City North Hall here, Taib, who is also state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, congratulated Najib for the BN victory in the Bagan Pinang state by-election yesterday.

The by-election saw Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad beat Zulkefly Mohamad Omar of PAS.

-- BERNAMA

Tak cerita pasal kerata api!!!???!

SCORE to draw RM300 bln investment in next two decades: CM
By Gaing Kunding Saturday, October 17th, 2009

BALINGIAN: Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) is to attract more than RM300 billion worth of investments over a period of 20 years from now, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday.

He said as such Sarawakians, particularly those living in central Sarawak, must be wellprepared to grab the employment opportunities and economic spin-offs.

The chief minister was speaking at a Majlis Ramah Tamah Hari Raya Aidilfitri at Masjid Al-Taqwa here.

He said SCORE was now very popular not only in Sarawak and Malaysia, but all over the world, adding that people were now talking about SCORE in other countries such as United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Japan, China, the US and Europe.

“SCORE will bring in more than RM300 billion worth of investments into Sarawak, particularly into the central region of the state, stretching from Tanjung Manis in Mukah Division to Samalaju (Similajau) in Bintulu Division over the next 20 years.

He said the people should strive to send their children to institutions of higher learning and skills training institutions and centres so that they would become graduates and professionals, and also possess relevant skills to match the job demands of major companies in SCORE,” he said. Taib, who is Balingian assemblyman, pointed out that the government needed help from big companies and rich investors in charting and implementing economic and development programmes to improve the people’s income and enhance their standard of living.

He pointed to the many big projects such as commercial oil palm plantations, timber and wood-based industries, Halal Hub in Tanjung Manis, aluminium smelting plant of Press Metal Sarawak Sdn Bhd and oil and gas projects as some examples of smartpartnership between rich investors and the government to bring economic and infrastructure development and progress to the people.

The chief minister reminded the people not to oppose or reject development blindly, but consult the relevant government depart-ments and agencies to air their grouses or reservations in order to achieve an amicable solution.

“It is very important for the people not to listen to negative ideas and perceptions painted by irresponsible quarters aimed at discrediting the government so they will not become the ultimate losers, deprived of development and progress,” said Taib, referring to these irresponsible quarters as people playing ‘hatred politics’ for personal gain.

On Hari Raya Aidilfiri, Taib said Hari Raya, just like other festivals such as Gawai Dayak, Chinese New Year or Christmas, had become a national festival celebrated by Malaysians of all levels together. Mukah Resident Saudi Narani and Councillor Yaakup Arbie, who represented the people of Balingian, also spoke at the function.

Among those present at the function were State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip, a political secretary to the chief minister-cum-Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie, Nangka assemblyman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Daro assemblyman Murni Suhaili and District Officer Mohamad Nawawi.

SCORE to draw RM300 bln investment in next two decades: CM
By Gaing Kunding Saturday, October 17th, 2009

BALINGIAN: Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) is to attract more than RM300 billion worth of investments over a period of 20 years from now, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday.

He said as such Sarawakians, particularly those living in central Sarawak, must be wellprepared to grab the employment opportunities and economic spin-offs.

The chief minister was speaking at a Majlis Ramah Tamah Hari Raya Aidilfitri at Masjid Al-Taqwa here.

He said SCORE was now very popular not only in Sarawak and Malaysia, but all over the world, adding that people were now talking about SCORE in other countries such as United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Japan, China, the US and Europe.

“SCORE will bring in more than RM300 billion worth of investments into Sarawak, particularly into the central region of the state, stretching from Tanjung Manis in Mukah Division to Samalaju (Similajau) in Bintulu Division over the next 20 years.

He said the people should strive to send their children to institutions of higher learning and skills training institutions and centres so that they would become graduates and professionals, and also possess relevant skills to match the job demands of major companies in SCORE,” he said. Taib, who is Balingian assemblyman, pointed out that the government needed help from big companies and rich investors in charting and implementing economic and development programmes to improve the people’s income and enhance their standard of living.

He pointed to the many big projects such as commercial oil palm plantations, timber and wood-based industries, Halal Hub in Tanjung Manis, aluminium smelting plant of Press Metal Sarawak Sdn Bhd and oil and gas projects as some examples of smartpartnership between rich investors and the government to bring economic and infrastructure development and progress to the people.

The chief minister reminded the people not to oppose or reject development blindly, but consult the relevant government depart-ments and agencies to air their grouses or reservations in order to achieve an amicable solution.

“It is very important for the people not to listen to negative ideas and perceptions painted by irresponsible quarters aimed at discrediting the government so they will not become the ultimate losers, deprived of development and progress,” said Taib, referring to these irresponsible quarters as people playing ‘hatred politics’ for personal gain.

On Hari Raya Aidilfiri, Taib said Hari Raya, just like other festivals such as Gawai Dayak, Chinese New Year or Christmas, had become a national festival celebrated by Malaysians of all levels together. Mukah Resident Saudi Narani and Councillor Yaakup Arbie, who represented the people of Balingian, also spoke at the function.

Among those present at the function were State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip, a political secretary to the chief minister-cum-Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie, Nangka assemblyman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Daro assemblyman Murni Suhaili and District Officer Mohamad Nawawi.

200bln is a google amount of RM. It may take them a looooong time and very good marketing plan to get it back. :storm:

i don believe SCORE can draw RM300 billion in 20 years, tis news make me laugh:lol:

i don believe SCORE can draw RM300 billion in 20 years, tis news make me laugh:lol:

Poor mentality. You should change your nick to something else because that nicname doesn't resembles you. Its quite rude you know...:ohno:

200bln is a google amount of RM. It may take them a looooong time and very good marketing plan to get it back. :storm:

dream the impossible. That is what Air Asia did, and they had achieve the impossible. So, it is not impossible for Score to do it well....

^^ agreed bro, out of all the corridor, i believe only 2 makes economic senses. SCORE and IDR. and SCORE is the corridor that i truly thing will takes off and succeed within its time frame, while IDR will take longer...what industries will not want to invest in an area with abundances of natural resources, high quality labor and UNi,cheap energy,cheap labor cheap land, but with no major impact towards the environment and their corporate image...

Really? :lol:

Sains wins world’s highest ICT award
By Zora Chan Saturday, October 24th, 2009

http://www.theborneopost.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/0000506020.JPG

WORLD’S BEST: Dr Chan (second left) presents the WSA 2009 trophy to
Taib, as (from left) Karim and Teo look on. - Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

KUCHING: Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (Sains) has won the United Nation’s World Summit Award (WSA) – the world’s most prestigious ICT award.

Sains is the first organisation in Southeast Asia to win the award, which was presented in Monterry, Mexico last month.

WSA is a flagship partnership initiative by the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development, and serves as a global contest and award of excellence for best practice examples in e-Content.

Sains’ Integrated Court System (ICS) won worldwide recognition as ‘The World’s Best e-Content’, under the e-Government and Institutions category.

ICS is an innovatively designed, end-to-end solution built by Sains, which integrates IT, video and mobile technologies to improve the efficiency of court case dispositions and the quality of judiciary services.

It triumphed over more than 24,000 other ICT products and projects distilled from 157
United Nations member countries participating in this fourth edition of the WSA award.

The ultimate WSA winners were decided by a grand jury of imminent ICT experts from 34 countries after evaluating 545 submissions in the final stage.

Sains chairman and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan yesterday led a delegation to present the trophy to Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at Wisma Bapa Malaysia.

Among those present were Sains chief executive officer Teo Tien Hiong, Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Abang Openg, High Court of Sabah and Sarawak commissioner of justice Rhodzariah Bujang, and Registrar of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak Azhahari Kamal Ramli.

In a press release, Teo said the company had literally grown from zero-base to be a world award-winning corporation in a relatively short period of 18 years.

“We have systematically recreated ourselves over the years to compete successfully not only beyond the public sector but also nationally as well as internationally.

“Our winning of the WSA 2009 provides Sains a timely independent quality platform for building our growing regional and international business as well as the confidence of delivering world-class solutions and services,” he said.

He added that the award was also significant in terms of its exclusivity and strategic importance for Malaysia and Sarawak.

With this international recognition, Sains as a local world-class ICT solutions and services provider will be able to provide a critical advantage to the state as Sarawak’s economic horizon rapidly expands with the execution of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) related mega projects.

Score attracts RM334b in planned investment
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20091103161015/Article/index_html

good for them!!!

Taib wants more federal money for development
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday called for more funds from the federal government so that the state could intensify its development programmes and projects.He said he hoped that the federal government would be sympathetic to the state’s requests particularly for achieving the Key Result Areas of Balanced Regional Development and Accessibility to Physical and Social Infrastructures.

“With the 1Malaysia spirit, Sarawak should be provided with more funds by the federal government, especially for roads, bridges, housing, education, health, rural water and electricity supplies, and industrial and tourism infrastructure,” he said when tabling the State Budget 2010.

Therefore, Taib, who is also Finance Minister, urged all government departments and agencies to bid for more allocations from the relevant authorities at the federal level.

He said Sarawak was still very much behind compared to other states in terms of infrastructure development due to its size and geographical conditions.

“An efficient transport and communications network is a fundamental prerequisite for economic development of the state,” he said.

Taib said well-developed infrastructure would reduce production costs and improve resource accessibility, mobility and attractiveness for investment.

“This is especially so in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) where there is an urgent need to accelerate infrastructural development.

“In this regard, we would seek greater federal support for the development of infrastructure and utilities,” he said.

SEB To Decide Score Electricity Tariffs By Next Year
December 17, 2009 18:09 PM

KUCHING, Dec 17 (Bernama)-- Electricity tariffs for investors in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) will be known by early next year.

State Planning Unit (SPU) advisor, Chang Ngee Hui, said Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) will make the final decision on the tariffs once the negotiation process to purchase power from Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd is completed.

"SEB has came out with a pricing mechanism and the cost of electricity will depend on the sources that SEB will get," he told reporters after a seminar here on Thursday on the benefits and challenges of Score.

Sarawak Hidro is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finance Ministry Inc, the developer of the RM6 billion Bakun hydroelectric project.

The Bakun dam, which has an installed capacity of 2,400MW, will be fully operational by 2011. The first of the dam's eight turbines, which could each generate 300MW, is expected to be commissioned in October or November next year.

However, the proposed first submarine cable project to transmit electricity from Bakun hydro dam to Peninsular Malaysia is expected to be completed by 2016 and the second a year later.

Among the energy-intensive industries to be set up in Score will include aluminium, glass, steel and oil-based plants as well as marine engineering.

Score is one of the five regional development corridors being developed throughout the country.

Located within the central part of Sarawak, the area stretches 320 kilometres along the coast from Tanjung Manis to Similajau, extending into the surrounding areas and the hinterland.

The core of the corridor will be energy resources, particularly hydropower (28,000 megawatts), coal (1.46 billion tonnes), and natural gas (40.9 trillion square cubic feet) found abundantly within the region.

-- BERNAMA

New airport for Mukah


KUCHING: Mukah will get a RM600mil airport to cater to its rapid growth as the Sarawak Corri-dor of Renewable Energy’s (Score) central administrative centre.

Mukah Division Resident Saudi Narani said the proposed airport was being designed, adding that the site survey work for the project was underway.

“The new airport will cater for B737-800W aircraft and larger passenger capacity.

“Half the funds approved for the project is already available,” he told about 100 participants at a seminar organised by Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (Azam) to provide updates on Score.

Saudi, who presented a paper on Score: Current developments and challenges in Mukah, said the existing airport in Mukah could only accommodate 18-seater Twin-Otter aircraft.

Presently, MasWing operates flights between Mukah and Kuching and the Mukah-Miri sector.

A new international airport is also being planned for the Tanjung Manis halal hub in Mukah Division.

Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) deputy general manager Hashim Bojet said the proposed airport would have transhipment facilities for halal products for the export market.

He said the 1.5km runway of the present Tanjung Manis airport, operated by STIDC, would be extended to 3km.

A new road to connect Sibu and Tanjung Manis is under construction.

Mukah and Tanjung Manis are two of the five major growth nodes for Score, the others being Samalaju in Bintulu Division, Baram in Miri Division and Tunoh in Kapit Division.

Saudi said Mukah Division, a traditional fishing village and the heartland of the Melanaus, will be transformed into a smart city to serve as a knowledge centre for human capital development, and research and development centre for resource-based industries.

Japan Investors Keen On Malaysia's New Economic Model
December 22, 2009 11:46 AM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=463808

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- The Japanese business community is eager to know full details of Malaysia's New Economic Model and the progress made in the various economic corridors, especially Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.

This was revealed during a recent interview by Japan's Nikkei Business with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He had explained to the weekly magazine the general plan to bring the country's economy to higher income from its present status of upper middle income economy.

The government had embarked on formulating a New Economic Model which would be based on innovation, creativity and high value sources of growth, he said.

"This model is intended to shift our reliance from a manufacturing base dependent on semi-skilled and low-cost labour to one that focuses on high technology and a modern services sector dependent upon skilled and highly-paid workers," he said in the one-hour interview.

"For this to happen we will be increasing investments in human capital development and building a strong foundation in research and development, design and engineering and commercialization of research activities," he said.

As for the corridor development, he said, it's aim was to spread the economic development throughout the country with specific focuses.

"The corridor development is moving. Some is moving faster than the other," he said, adding that Iskandar Malaysia had secured big investments, especially from the Middle East.

Asked on the meetings he had with captains of industry in Tokyo and Osaka during his specific investment mission from Dec 7 to 10, Muhyiddin said he had "active and fruitful" meetings.

"We had discussions on many areas of interest and incentives. We also spoke about how companies like Toyota can help Malaysia to move forward in the automotive industry."

Basically, he said, Japanese investors were not only keen to make a one-time investment in Malaysia but also expanding it on the future potentials the country could offer.

He said it was a great opportunity for him to explain the Malaysian government's policies to the Japanese business community.

During the interview, Nikkei Business also asked Muhyiddin on the halal business and its potential, saying that Japanese investors were also interested in the area.

"Malaysia has established itself as the most advanced Muslim country in setting the Halal standard, which is very stringent," he replied.

He explained on how food, products and services can be labeled as halal. Halal pharmaceuticals had a good future and offerred opportunities for business. he added.

"We believe there is a huge potential, especially in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics," he said.

Other sectors of interest are Islamic finance and banking and tourism.

Japan's investment in Malaysia surged to US$1.87 billion between January and September involving 45 approved projects, making it the largest foreign investor in Malaysia.

Last year, total investments from Japan were US$1.6 billion in 60 approved projects.

To date, there were 2,260 projects with Japanese participation being implemented in the manufacturing sector in Malaysia, with investments worth US$14.9 billion.

Over the last five years, Malaysia's trade with Japan recorded an upward trend.

Last year, Malaysia's total trade with Japan was US$41.1 billion, with exports at US$21.6 billion and imports US$19.5 billon.

Japan was Malaysia's third largest export market last year and was Malaysia's second largest import source.

Major exports to Japan are liquefied natural gas, electrical and electronic appliances, wood products, chemicals and chemical-based products, optical and scientific equipment.

Malaysia's major imports from Japan are electrical and electronic products, machinery, appliances and parts, metal fabricated products, transport equipment, iron and steel products.

-- BERNAMA

1Malaysia, China giant to pump billions into Sarawak Corridor
By Hamisah Hamid Published: 2010/01/12

http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/11SCORE/pix_bottom

1Malaysia Development Bhd and State Grid Corp of China will set up a joint-venture company to pursue projects that would generate US$11 billion worth of economic value.

Goverment-owned strategic development company 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) has teamed up with power transmission and distribution company State Grid Corp of China (SGCC) to undertake multi-billion-ringgit projects in Sarawak that would generate US$11 billion (RM36.6 billion) worth of economic value.

Both sides will set up a joint-venture company to pursue various projects in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), with the aim of being major investors in the Corridor.

"It is imperative that these proposed projects are attended to with the utmost sense of urgency by our relevant agencies," Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said when officiating at the 1MDB corporate office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Also present were Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, SGCC president and chief executive officer Liu Zhenya and 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin.

Najib, who is also 1MDB advisers board chairman, later witnessed the signing of a cooperation framework agreement between 1MDB and SGCC.

The amount of investments from both sides were not revealed but it is understood that they will firm up the investments once the joint-venture company is established.

Najib said the entry of SGCC, which reported over US$160 billion (RM533 billion) revenue and US$273 billion (RM909 billion) assets last year, and its significant investment in Score will pave the way for more substantial investments from China and globally into Malaysia.

"I believe SGCC's confidence in Sarawak will inspire even more confidence in Malaysia as the preferred investment destination among global investors," he said.

With 1.5 million people on its payroll, SGCC - the world's largest utility company - is ranked 15 in the 2009 Fortune Global 500.

Score, which represents the new economic model for Sarawak, currently has planned projects worth US$24 billion (RM80 billion).

During Najib's visit to Middle East last year, 1MDB entered into a US$2.5 billion (RM8 billion) partnership with Saudi Arabia's PetroSaudi International Ltd. 1MDB will inject US$1 billion (RM3.3 billion) in the fund while the rest will come from PetroSaudi.

Najib said 1MDB has built enough trust among its global network to give it the extra edge to forge strong partnerships that can attract foreign investments.

He said in today's highly competitive global economy, the sum of all physical incentives such as tax cuts, good location, logistics support, manpower and political stability are not enough to produce the added advantage.

"In these days, trust is paramount. And trust is earned when individuals working together develop a clear understanding of each other's role, confident that everyone will deliver as promised without any hidden agenda," he said.

According to him, 1MDB embodies the 1Malaysia principle in unlocking potential of the younger generation as there are many young Malaysians returning from abroad to serve the country through 1MDB.

Meanwhile, Liu said 1MDB is SGCC's important partner in Malaysia.

"The Chinese government is very supportive of Chinese enterprises' involvement in the infrastructure projects in Malaysia in a more extensive way," he said.

In recent years, trade and cooperation in energy and infrastructure sectors between both countries have increased significantly, he added.

^^waaaa...36bilion??? dats cool!

SCORE set to spark influx
By STEPHEN THEN Wednesday January 13, 2010

MIRI: Sarawak is bracing for an influx of foreign workers once billion-ringgit projects come onstream in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the signing of a contract between Malaysia and a consortium from China for a RM38.5bil joint venture in energy-intensive projects in SCORE recently meant more foreign workers would be needed.

“We will need thousands of workers during the construction stages of these projects, especially during the lower-end stages such as land-clearing, building of roads and supporting infrastructure.

“We have the manpower to fill the vacancies that will be available for the middle administrative parts of the projects, but we may not be able to find enough people to handle the construction stages.

“I expect Sarawakians to take over some senior posts, but in the initial stage we will have to recruit a lot of foreign workers,” he said.

On Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud witnessed the signing of agreements for projects between 1Malaysia Development Bhd and China State Grid Corporation in Kuala Lumpur.

“We expect this mega-project to create opportunities for spin-off industries that may end up four or five times larger than the original RM38.5bil investment,” Dr Chan said.

He said the state government would have to look into the possibility of sending large numbers of Sarawakian workers for skills training overseas.

Located between Mukah Division and Bintulu Division, SCORE is meant primarily for renewable power-generation projects and also industries that require huge amounts of electricity, including aluminium and steel plants.

Boom time for S’wak construction firms
January 13, 2010, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=4463

Building materials and transportation sectors also expected to benefit from 1MDB-SGCC agreement

KUCHING: The construction, building materials and transportation sectors in Sarawak are expected to blossom following the cooperation agreement between 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) to develop projects in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).OSK Research Sdn Bhd (OSK Research) in a research report yesterday noted that with the signing of the agreement, interest in Sarawakian companies should be picking up.

The research firm observed that the development should benefit Sarawak-based contractors such as Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMS), Naim Holdings Bhd (Naim) and Hock Seng Lee Bhd (HSL) as most projects in the State are awarded to them.

It believed that these contractors could also participate in other support infrastructure works required for the proposed projects within SCORE.

Apart from that, it also noted that Loh & Loh Corporation Bhd could benefit from the proposed dams to be built given its expertise.

Thus, OSK Research’s top recommendation for the construction sector was Naim given its relatively cheaper valuations over HSL.

Meanwhile, OSK Research recalled that in 2005, CMS entered into a Memo*randum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies, Luneng Group and Sinohdyro Corporation to undertake a feasibility study for an aluminium smelter in Sarawak.

Following the study, it noted that CMS together with its consortium partners, which included the SGCC, submitted a proposal to the Government to set up and operate an aluminium smelter at a cost of RM9 billion to RM11 billion.

As such, the research firm said interest from SGCC actually preceded the signing of the Heads of Agreement between Australian-based Rio Tinto Alcan (Rio Tinto), the aluminium division of Rio Tinto Ltd and CMS to build its 720,000-tonnes alumi*nium smelter in Samalaju.

On the other hand, OSK Research was uncertain of the current status between Rio Tinto and CMS given the latest joint venture (JV) between 1MDB and SGCC although Sarawak Aluminium Company (Salco) which is a joint venture between Rio Tinto and CMS participated in the International Energy Week in November last year.

The research firm predicted that the latest JV could be an expansion of consortium members or a rival smelter.

However, it also noted that the investment of US$11 billion would cover the cost of the total projects.

In the meantime, the reported plans for one smelter (RM10 billion) and three power plants, Murum, Baram and Baleh which would generate 944Megawatt (MW), 1,000MW and 1,400 MW of electricity respectively were expected to cost a total of between RM21.4 billion to RM32.7 billion. The amount did not include access roads to the projects.

Indeed, OSK Research highlighted that such investments will definitely benefit Sarawakian construction players, port operators and power cable producers.

At the same time, OSK Research continued to expect more construction projects to roll out given the timing of the State Election which was getting nearer and was envisaged to be held by the end of this year or early next year.

For the building materials sector, the research firm preferred companies with exposure to wires and cables to SCORE.

It said the projects totalling US$11 billion in SCORE included three hydroelectric dams and one smelter plant that will benefit wires and cables manufacturers.

Although a major portion of the supply contracts for these projects were expected to be awarded to Chinese-based suppliers, OSK Research pointed out that part of the value was likely to be distributed to domestic players.

Hence, it recommended Leader Universal Bhd (Leader) to be a potential beneficiary as Leader’s exposure to the SCORE region is both direct and indirect through its plants in the Peninsular Malaysia as well as its Sarawak-based 35 per cent owned associate company Universal Cable (Sarawak) Bhd.

As for the transportation sector, OSK Research viewed Bintulu Port (Bintulu Port) Holdings Bhd as being a direct beneficiary should the project be located near Samalaju Industrial Park which was identified as one of the three growth areas of the SCORE development plan.

Following a company visit, the research firm noted that Bintulu Port was working to become a key strategic partner as port operator of the new deepwater port in Samalaju.

It believed that the goal is achievable given Bintulu Port’s decades of experience as a multi-purpose port operator as well as the support of the Sarawak Government as its major shareholder.

The research firm was optimistic that Bintulu Port is poised to ride on the heightening economic activity in the overall SCORE development projects regardless of location.

As a whole, OSK Research maintained its positive view on Sarawak-based construction players and port operator, riding on the development of projects in SCORE such as Naim, CMS, HSL and Bintulu Port.

10MP to address state’s infrastructure needs
January 16, 2010, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=4933

KUCHING: The state government is banking on Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) to act as the state’s economic catalyst.

To do this, the state must address two major issues, namely, laying down strong infrastructure both within SCORE and areas crucial to its development, and having in place a workforce capable of driving industries in SCORE.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said his hope is that the necessary infrastructure will be realised in the Tenth Malaysia Plan and that he is confident that efforts to create a ‘knowledge workforce’ sufficient to meet industries’ demand will bear fruit in time.

“We still need infrastructure development. It is crucial to the growth of the economy as good infrastructure will bring down the cost of transportation,” said Taib who earlier on attended a dialogue at Wisma Bapa Malaysia with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economic Planning Unit) Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

Deputy chief ministers Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, state ministers and heads of departments and agencies were among those at the dialogue.

Meanwhile, Taib also spoke of the role of skilled and trained workers in helping the state realise its diversified target of a high-income economy.

He said the planned emergence of several mega industries in SCORE is sure to create a scenario where workers will be highly paid because they have the skills and knowledge needed by these industries.

Last Monday, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) sealed an agreement to jointly venture into major projects in SCORE.

According to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who witnessed the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, the potential value of the projects in the SCORE is US$11 billion.

Taib was also present at the signing ceremony, and yesterday he also touched on the dialogue, saying he appreciated the efforts taken by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister’s Department to seek the state government’s opinion in the preparation of the Tenth Plan.

“It is very important to note that our geography and demography are a bit different from West Malaysia,” he said, adding that more efforts must be done to refine the implementation process to ensure that federal money is not wasted.

“We in Sarawak, we don’t want the federal government’s money not being taken good care of because the projects are for the rakyat and therefore the money must be spent efficiently,” Taib said.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Yakcop said the EPU was conducting a series of dialogues with all the states as well as with non-government organisations (NGO) with the aim of preparing a comprehensive Malaysia Plan before its tabling in parliament on June 10.

“We want to ensure the 10MP is perfect after taking into account the opinions and comments from all parties,” he said.

Acknowledging that Sarawak is a big state that requires bigger allocation under the 10MP, Mohamed Yakcop said: “I am satisfied with the explanation and information which we received in the dialogue…and there are many things which we managed to understand, especially on certain issues in Sarawak.”

Asked by a journalist on the amount requested by the state government under the 10MP, Mohamed Yakcop said the information is regarded as “confidential at this stage”.

“We will know on June 10 when we table the Malaysia Plan…we cannot tell now because the information is confidential,” he said.

Sarawak To Set Up Data Bank Of Score Soon
January 21, 2010 20:45 PM

KUCHING, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Sarawak will set up a data bank on the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) soon to provide information and business opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and investors.

Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) president Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg said the setting up of data bank, proposed by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan, would enable a more updated and complete data of Score.

He said the state's Industrial Development Ministry and SCCI were working together on the data bank, with the assistance and expertise from Sarawak Information System Sdn Bhd (SAINS).

"With the data bank, SCCI members, especially SMEs, will know better what is available in SCORE. We will able to help SMEs to explore business opportunities in SCORE," Abdul Karim said at a press conference after the opening of seminar on "Optimising Opportunities Under Malaysia's Free Trade Agreements" by Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) deputy chief executive officer (development), Mohamad Kamarudin Hassan, here Thursday.

"For the investors, the data bank would enable them to look for products and services provide by SMEs. We can get them (SMEs and investors) together," he told reporters.

Abdul Karim also urged SMEs to explore the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and take full advantage in tapping the market.

"We should further develop the relations among the BIMP-EAGA members countries and take advantage of it," he said.

Abdul Karim hoped that Matrade and SCCI could work together to explore business opportunities in Sarawak.

SCORE is one of the five regional development corridors being developed throughout the country.

Located within Sarawak's Central Region, it stretches for 320 kilometres along the coast from Tanjung Manis to Similajau and extends into the surrounding areas and the hinterland.

-- BERNAMA

SCORE To Benefit From Increased Government Spending On Sarawak
February 13, 2010 16:45 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Sarawak will benefit from an increased government spending on infrastructure projects this year, especially for the Renewable Energy Corridor (SCORE).

According to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd in a research note on Saturday, the development of SCORE, would specifically require basic infrastructure such as roads, dam, bridges and rail to support heavy industries as well as new hydropower energy.

"We expect more construction jobs to be awarded to local construction companies. Sarawak-based contractors such as Hock Seng Lee Bhd and Naim Holdings Bhd, will be the main beneficiaries, from an increased government development spending," it said.

MIDF Amanah also said a positive inflow of foreign direct investments (FDIs) into the state, will provide a multiplier effect and long-term positive impact on Sarawak state-owned companies, particularly those involved in the construction sector.

Over the past month, Sarawak has received huge FDIs from China, including the US$1 billion joint venture smelter project in Similajau Industrial Park.

-- BERNAMA

Hopefully Sarawak will rule South East Asia one day :okay:

Rebutlah peluang ekonomi di SCORE
by Watt Zacchaeus March 10, 2010, Wednesday

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/2230.jpg

RASMI SUDAH: Taib menandatangani plak perasmian MCBB di Mukah,
semalam. Turut kelihatan (dari kanan) Abu Seman, Fatimah, Hii, Yeo,
Leo serta yang lain.

MUKAH: Ketua Menteri, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud semalam menyeru kepada semua rakyat di negeri ini supaya merebut peluang ekonomi yang luas dalam Koridor Tenaga Diperbaharui Sarawak (SCORE).

“SCORE berpotensi menarik lebih pelaburan melebihi RM300 bilion dan membuka peluang ekonomi yang luas di negeri ini. Sebagai rakyat di negeri ini, kita harus bersedia untuk merebut peluang-peluang itu bagi memperoleh hasil yang lumayan, sekali gus mampu menaikkan taraf hidup semua masyarakat di negeri ini,” kata beliau se-masa berucap menyempurna-kan bangunan Lembaga Kebajikan Khairat Cina Mukah (MCBB) di sini, semalam.

Katanya, ahli-ahli perniagaan juga mesti sedia dengan modal perlaburan mereka dan pencari pekerjaan harus bijak merebut peluang untuk memperoleh pendapatan bulanan yang lumayan dalam SCORE.

Beliau berpendapat untuk memperoleh kejayaan, ahli-ahli peniagaan dan pencari kerja harus melengkapkan diri dengan pendidikan, pengetahuan dan kemahiran untuk mengharungi segala cabaran di SCORE kerana dalam SCORE ia memerlukan tenaga kerja yang berprofesional.

Penduduk Mukah, katanya, harus memanfaatkan peluang dalam SCORE kelak kerana kawasan SCORE adalah dari Tanjung Manis di Mukah hingga ke bahagian Similajau di Bintulu dan ia menyediakan peluang pekerjaan kepada penduduk Mukah yang dekat dengan kawasan SCORE.

Menyentuh mengenai pembangunan jalan raya dan infrastruktur lain, Taib menjelaskan bahawa ia dibina untuk kemudahan rakyat sejajar dengan perkembangan masyarakat.

Oleh itu, beliau menasihatkan rakyat agar bersabar dalam menghadapi kerumitan kesan daripada pembangunan yang berlaku di kawasan mereka jika ingin terus menikmati manfaat pada masa depan.

Pada majlis yang sama Taib yang juga ADUN Balingian turut menyerahkan geran berjumlah RM50,000 kepada MCCB.

Beliau menyerahkan replika cek untuk geran tersebut kepada Pengerusi MCBB Yeo Tiong Ing dan menyeru kaum Cina di Mukah agar bekerja keras serta sentiasa bersatu dan bekerjasama.

Yeo dalam ucapannya berkata MCCB telah didaftar pada tahun 1950 sebagai Lembaga Kebajikan Khairat Cina Mukah bagi menjaga kebajikan dan sosial masyarakat Cina di Bahagian Mukah.

Hadir sama pada majlis tersebut ialah Menteri Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri merangkap ADUN Dalat, Datin Fatimah Abdullah, Setiausaha Politik Ketua Menteri merangkap ADUN Jemoreng, Abu Seman Jahwie, Ahli Parlimen Mukah, Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Toyad Abdullah, Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak, Datuk Amar Mohammad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Residen Bahagian Mukah, Saudi Narani, Penasihat MCBB, Hii King Chiong serta para tetamu kehormat yang lain.

SCORE to bring up economy
by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith March 30, 2010, Tuesday
State GDP expected to grow three times within the next decade – Taib

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/2629.jpg

GO FOR INNOVATION: Taib (centre) looks at one of the engineering
equipment on display during Asia 2010. Also seen are (front row, from right)
Aqua-Media International sales and marketing manager Gael Bozez, Jabu,
Awang Tengah and Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Larry Sng.

KUCHING: The state’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow threefold in the next 10 years, and fivefold in 2030, due to the implementation of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the state’s GDP could reach RM70 billion to RM74 billion by year 2020 and this could further increase by fivefold to RM118 billion in 2030.

“Income expected from the development of SCORE will be quite rewarding. As a whole, we are quite excited about the development of SCORE.

“It is planned to bring the state in line with Vision 2020 to upgrade our national economy from a middle income to a high income economy,” Taib said when officiating at the Third International Conference and Exhibition on Water Resources and Renewable Energy Development in Asia (Asia 2010) yesterday.

Taib, who is also Planning and Resource Management Minister, said to-date, SCORE was able to attract about RM30 billion worth of investments out of the potential RM313 billion (based on the current money value) under its 20-year master plan.

SCORE would also be able to create more than 1.5 million jobs by 2030, he added.

The chief minister said the target is feasible, based on the phase of the state’s political development and its developmental planning.

“Since independence, Sarawak has relied heavily on agriculture and timber. This has been the basis of our economy for quite some time. After 1985, we have to diversify and create more industries because creating job opportunities is important. Due to this, we have managed to double our job (market) within the space of 25 years,” Taib pointed out.

He said with the launch of SCORE, the state has to be more ambitious on how to coordinate its infrastructure and manpower planning. As the state developed, the government realised the potential of expanding human resource and had to be bold enough in taking it to the next step.

He admitted that the government must be prepared for the escalation in manpower training. To meet the demand, the government has been upgrading and setting up four university campus. In addition a 1,000 capacity sub-training facility project in Mukah (of polytechnic standard) has been approved.

Taib said the planning for the manpower has got to be done side by side with the planning for industrial development as the success of SCORE inadvertently depended on developmental planning synchronisation.

However, he warned that there was a possibility of a professional and semi-professional worker shortage and the people here might have to compete with skilled workers from neighbouring countries. To speed up development, foreign recruitment is a must but would have to be done gradually to minimise social problems.

As SCORE aims to accelerate the state’s economic growth as well as improve the lives of the rural people, the heart of this plan is the availability of substantial energy resources, which included hydropower potential equivalent to 28,000 MW.

“The plan is to see if we can produce about 3,000MW by 2016-2017. It would keep us in tune to the demand of heavy industries that will revolutionise Sarawak’s economic pattern,” said Taib.

By the end of 2010, Bakun would be able to produce about 300 MW from its first turbine while Murum hydroelectric dam would produce about 944 MW upon its completion in 2013. Five other potential hydropower dam areas were Baleh (1,400 MW), Baram (1,200 MW), Limbang (245 MW), Lawas (100 MW) and Pelagus (410 MW).

When all the dams are completed, up and running, the state would be able to meet its target producing roughly about 6,689 MW. This is helped by the Bakun Hydroelectric dam which will produce about 2,400 MW when completed by 2015.

On another note, Taib mentioned that by 2030, the five SCORE nodes developed will be ‘maturing’, and an area called Sama Maju will be the centre of the heavy industries spread over the Mukah area.

Tanjung Manis would be the ‘halal’ hub focusing on food industries which the state believes would be capable of producing about five billion ringgit worth of food and agro-based products. He said that oil palm plantations would be focussed in the coastal areas of Tanjung Manis, Kapit, Kanowit and Baram, and into Betong and Sarikei.

“What could be done in terms of international exposure, in terms of ideas, construction capability, in terms of technical know-how, we will achieve great things in the future.

“I am confident that this conference will convince people to look at Sarawak more closely, at the potential aspect of SCORE,” Taib added.

The Asia 2010 conference and exhibition, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday and today was organised by UK publishing company Aqua-Media International Ltd (publisher of the bimonthly International Journal on Hydropower and Dams) in partnership with Sarawak Energy Berhad.

Key topics on the programme included dam safety, flood mitigation and management, sedimentation, small schemes for rural electrification and social issues relating to resettlement.

More than 600 delegates from 46 countries gathered for the conference.

The exhibition involved 65 exhibitors including some established engineering firms. Kuching is the third Asian city to host this event after Bangkok in 2006 and Danang, Vietnam (2008).

Among those present were deputy chief ministers Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and State Legislative Assembly Speaker Dato Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.

The dam runneth over
By ANITA GABRIEL



anita@thestar.com.my

FOR long, the schism between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak has been the subject of heated debate and every now and then, politicians have used it to woo the electorate. Truth is, there is a yawning gulf between the two, given their widely-divergent socio-economic tapestry.

There are many things about Sarawak that pique the interest and curiosity of its “other half” in the peninsula and lately, that has been largely centred on its mammoth catalytic corridor development plan, quite accurately labelled SCORE. (See also page 21). But that’s not to say that Peninsular Malaysia does not have its fair share of corridor projects, in fact, it has three of its own – Iskandar Malaysia, ECER (East Coast Economic Region) and NCER (Northern Corridor Economic Region).

Bursting with multi-billion ringgit worth of business opportunities with the promise to raise the bar on its people’s living standards by creating plenty of job opportunities and upgrading infrastructure, SCORE spans right up to 2030.

On the back of that, it is of little surprise that many Sarawak based/owned companies listed on Bursa Malaysia are gradually owning a bigger space in investors’ radar screen.

Who stands to score the most?

Given such abundant opportunities, players in countless sectors, namely the power, construction, property and infrastructure businesses can be forgiven for rubbing their hands with glee at the sheer thought of a slice of all that action landing on their lap.

With over RM200bil of potential investments, Sarawak planners say the corridor development is “big enough for everybody in Sarawak to participate.” The biggest beneficiaries, of course, would be home-grown Sarawak companies or those with close ties to them.

The potential jobs galore has led many equity analysts to issue favourable research reports on the usual stalwarts in the state, namely infrastructure company Naim Holdings Bhd, construction firm Hock Seng Lee Bhd, utility company Sarawak Energy Bhd (it was recently privatised) and construction and steel fabrication unit KKB Engineering Bhd, among others.

These companies’ earnings trajectory are likely to gain traction as the development within Sarawak’s growth corridor intensifies, says an analyst.

“SCORE is massive. It provides 1MDB with many attractive opportunities ...,” says Shahrol Halmi, managing director and chief executive officer of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

“We want our projects in SCORE to spawn supporting industries and high-value downstream activities in the long run. We expect the increased economic activity to create jobs and generate new business as well as trade. We will explore every potential, including heavy industries, real estate and tourism. All this will benefit long-term sustainable economic development as well as promote the inflow of FDI,” he tells StarBizWeek.

To drive home the point, 1MDB not too long ago had joined forces with State Grid Corp of China to explore investment opportunities worth US$11 bil provided by SCORE. According to Shahrol, an office has been set up in Kuching to jointly pursue projects.

“As they involve multiple projects, there are a lot of details to work out. There is potential in SCORE to help open the floodgates for huge investments from China and globally into Malaysia,” he says, adding that the plans will be announced at the appropriate time.

In addition, the state has some 28,000MW of power potential, 70% of which stems from its hydro power, just waiting to be harnessed. Such eye-popping data has drawn many companies, local and abroad, to shop around in the state “to drink from the dam of opportunities”, as one observer succintly puts it.

But the issue of energy supply in the state appears to have caused some unease among some. Will Sarawak sell part of its power from Bakun as well as other dams to the peninsula or will it be used to cater to the needs of its energy-intensive industries like aluminium smelters or be sold to other countries? No doubt, the multiplier impact on the state’s economic growth would be far higher if it were to do the latter. Still, that’s an issue that will need to be addressed, not urgently, but eventually in the medium term.

Getting ready to Score

To tap the sheer potential that SCORE has to offer, some companies have undertaken several corporate exercises. One of them is Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, which sold its 37% stake in UBG Bhd early this year to a Middle East company PetroSaudi International Ltd.

Two factors got people to sit up and take notice of the deal. Firstly, CMS is the flagship listed asset of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s family.

Secondly, PetroSaudi had a little earlier tied up with 1MDB to explore investment opportunities in the state as well and so, it was hard to beat speculation that everyone was in it together. It was eventually denied that there was any link between CMS’ sale of UBG to PetroSaudi and the latter’s tie up with 1MDB. “They are two separate deals,” PetroSaudi had said.

CMS’ sale of UBG is largely premised on raising funds to invest in certain SCORE projects, one of which includes an aluminium smelter in Samalaju, Sarawak.

Publicity-averse tycoons

If you simply go by the headlines on Sarawak businessmen, you can be forgiven if you form the impression that there are largely only two kinds of tycoons bred in Sarawak – timber tycoons and/or media barons.

Truth is, over several decades, Sarawak’s rich timber resources has resulted in the emergence of many wealthy businessmen. In fact, if you take a look at our “Sarawak Shakers” (next story), over half of them built their sprawling business empires on the high profit margin business and once that got off the ground, they ventured out into other activities such as shipping, shipbuilding, plantations and so forth.

Generally speaking, Sarawak tycoons appear averse to the spotlight, preferring instead to do their wheeling and dealing “far from the madding crowd”.

They are mostly salt-of-the-earth type of entrepreneurs from poor or humble beginnings who through sheer force of entrepreneurial spirit have made it to big business.

But hide, some of them can’t, for they and their sprawling business empires have been tracked down by the widely-followed enviable wealth indices of Forbes Rich List.

The macro angle

Sarawak is Malaysia’s largest state. Its economic activity is mostly dominated by mining, agriculture and forestry sectors. Other sectors like manufacturing, wholesale, retail trading and construction also contribute significantly to the state’s income.

These primary sectors make up some 40% of the state’s total real gross domestic product (GDP), followed by the secondary sector (i.e. manufacturing and construction) with about slightly more than 30%.

Sarawak is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. LNG and petroleum have provided the mainstay of the state’s economy for decades and it is also one of the world’s largest exporters of tropical hardwood timber.

However, the state government has imposed strict log-production quotas over the recent years to ensure sustainable forestry management.

Still the state, it has been reported, produces approximately 9 to 10 million cu m of logs annually.

The time has come

For political watchers, this is an interesting year for the state given its fast-approaching state elections which is due by mid-2011.

The biggest question – will Taib, 74, decide to stay on or pass the baton? Having been in office for 28 years, he holds the rank as the longest serving chief minister in the country. The next big question – who is next in line?

Political pundits say the current government’s strongest selling point is this second wave of development.

While the term of the current government expires in July next year, pundits expect the chief minister to call for an early election given the economy is currently recovering and the general feel good factor of the development agenda.

For analysts, it means more good news. “We expect the pace of job flows to intensify in the coming months, especially with the state elections,” says an analyst.

Hopefully Sarawak will rule South East Asia one day :okay:

by 2030, sarawak aims to become the richest state in the federation.

SCORE to bring up economy
by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith March 30, 2010, Tuesday
State GDP expected to grow three times within the next decade – Taib

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/2629.jpg

GO FOR INNOVATION: Taib (centre) looks at one of the engineering
equipment on display during Asia 2010. Also seen are (front row, from right)
Aqua-Media International sales and marketing manager Gael Bozez, Jabu,
Awang Tengah and Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Larry Sng.

KUCHING: The state’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow threefold in the next 10 years, and fivefold in 2030, due to the implementation of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the state’s GDP could reach RM70 billion to RM74 billion by year 2020 and this could further increase by fivefold to RM118 billion in 2030.

“Income expected from the development of SCORE will be quite rewarding. As a whole, we are quite excited about the development of SCORE.

“It is planned to bring the state in line with Vision 2020 to upgrade our national economy from a middle income to a high income economy,” Taib said when officiating at the Third International Conference and Exhibition on Water Resources and Renewable Energy Development in Asia (Asia 2010) yesterday.

Taib, who is also Planning and Resource Management Minister, said to-date, SCORE was able to attract about RM30 billion worth of investments out of the potential RM313 billion (based on the current money value) under its 20-year master plan.

SCORE would also be able to create more than 1.5 million jobs by 2030, he added.

The chief minister said the target is feasible, based on the phase of the state’s political development and its developmental planning.

“Since independence, Sarawak has relied heavily on agriculture and timber. This has been the basis of our economy for quite some time. After 1985, we have to diversify and create more industries because creating job opportunities is important. Due to this, we have managed to double our job (market) within the space of 25 years,” Taib pointed out.

He said with the launch of SCORE, the state has to be more ambitious on how to coordinate its infrastructure and manpower planning. As the state developed, the government realised the potential of expanding human resource and had to be bold enough in taking it to the next step.

He admitted that the government must be prepared for the escalation in manpower training. To meet the demand, the government has been upgrading and setting up four university campus. In addition a 1,000 capacity sub-training facility project in Mukah (of polytechnic standard) has been approved.

Taib said the planning for the manpower has got to be done side by side with the planning for industrial development as the success of SCORE inadvertently depended on developmental planning synchronisation.

However, he warned that there was a possibility of a professional and semi-professional worker shortage and the people here might have to compete with skilled workers from neighbouring countries. To speed up development, foreign recruitment is a must but would have to be done gradually to minimise social problems.

As SCORE aims to accelerate the state’s economic growth as well as improve the lives of the rural people, the heart of this plan is the availability of substantial energy resources, which included hydropower potential equivalent to 28,000 MW.

“The plan is to see if we can produce about 3,000MW by 2016-2017. It would keep us in tune to the demand of heavy industries that will revolutionise Sarawak’s economic pattern,” said Taib.

By the end of 2010, Bakun would be able to produce about 300 MW from its first turbine while Murum hydroelectric dam would produce about 944 MW upon its completion in 2013. Five other potential hydropower dam areas were Baleh (1,400 MW), Baram (1,200 MW), Limbang (245 MW), Lawas (100 MW) and Pelagus (410 MW).

When all the dams are completed, up and running, the state would be able to meet its target producing roughly about 6,689 MW. This is helped by the Bakun Hydroelectric dam which will produce about 2,400 MW when completed by 2015.

On another note, Taib mentioned that by 2030, the five SCORE nodes developed will be ‘maturing’, and an area called Sama Maju will be the centre of the heavy industries spread over the Mukah area.

Tanjung Manis would be the ‘halal’ hub focusing on food industries which the state believes would be capable of producing about five billion ringgit worth of food and agro-based products. He said that oil palm plantations would be focussed in the coastal areas of Tanjung Manis, Kapit, Kanowit and Baram, and into Betong and Sarikei.

“What could be done in terms of international exposure, in terms of ideas, construction capability, in terms of technical know-how, we will achieve great things in the future.

“I am confident that this conference will convince people to look at Sarawak more closely, at the potential aspect of SCORE,” Taib added.

The Asia 2010 conference and exhibition, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday and today was organised by UK publishing company Aqua-Media International Ltd (publisher of the bimonthly International Journal on Hydropower and Dams) in partnership with Sarawak Energy Berhad.

Key topics on the programme included dam safety, flood mitigation and management, sedimentation, small schemes for rural electrification and social issues relating to resettlement.

More than 600 delegates from 46 countries gathered for the conference.

The exhibition involved 65 exhibitors including some established engineering firms. Kuching is the third Asian city to host this event after Bangkok in 2006 and Danang, Vietnam (2008).

Among those present were deputy chief ministers Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and State Legislative Assembly Speaker Dato Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.

Sarawak tops list for FDIs
By Lian Cheng Published: 2010/09/24
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/labur/Article/

AS of this month, Sarawak again tops the list for foreign direct investments compared with other states in Malaysia.

Minister of Industrial Development Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said Sarawak with its Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) has attracted interest globally.

"As of right now, there are 27 investment proposals and six of them have been given manufacturing licences," said Dr Chan who is also Deputy Chief Minister at a press conference at Wisma Bapa after meeting with representatives from several higher learning institutions to discuss on job matching between industrial players and courses offered by institutions.

In total, the government estimated that the long term private investment in Score would be worth some RM267 billion of which six of them, valued at TM19.35 billion have been fully committed.

Citing Press Metal Sarawak Sdn Bhd and MEMC Electronic Materials Inc as an examples, he said some of the players were already in place, others who have committed are making preparations to venture into Sarawak.

Dr Chan said Sarawak not has to prepare the required manpower to support the government's aspirations of developing the state's economy.

With its first initiative of matchmaking job with higher learning and training institutions yesterday, Dr Chan said the state would continue to meet up with higher learning institutions to ensure that the latter offer relevant courses and training to meet the anticipated industrial demand.

Score which offers cheap hydro power energy and well facilited industrial sites has been targeting a total investment of RM340 billion.

Malaysian Corridor to focus on Sarawak’s energy plans
By SHARON LING Tuesday September 28, 2010
Photo by Zulazhar Sheblee
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/9/28/sarawak/7112032&sec=sarawak

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2010/9/28/sarawak/sw_02taib.jpg

Cover story: (from left) Taib, Muhammad Kassim and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr
George Chan looking at mock-up covers of the October issue of the Malaysian Corridor
magazine, which focuses on the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.

THE next issue of the new Malaysian Corridor magazine will focus on the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and the state’s development plans.

The issue, due in October, will also carry an interview with Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on his ambition to see Sarawak become a developed state by 2020.

Published by Corridor Develop-ment Corporation Bhd (CDC), the magazine was launched in June this year to assist the government in its efforts to promote investment and business opportunities in the country’s five development corridors.

Taib, who launched the October issue in Kuching yesterday, welcomed the publicity that the magazine would give to SCORE.

“Because we are starting SCORE in a big manner by inviting world players in aluminium smelters and other heavy industries, we need to have a lot of publicity and that’s where Malaysian Corridor can serve us well. Thank you for coming to Sarawak to give us the opportunity to be heard and to be known,” he said.

He said the more information gets out to investors, the more they would see Sarawak as a destination for investment and the more negotiations that state could have with big players.

“This will be good for the management of SCORE in the future,” he added.

Taib said investment in education would be the key to SCORE’s success as it would be necessary for the state to produce skilled workers for its manpower needs.

He said a study to be completed at the end of the year would show that 40% of the jobs to be created in SCORE would be semi-skilled upwards.

“This is a requirement we have to fulfil to achieve developed-nation status,” he said.

Earlier, CDC group chairman Datuk Muhammad Kassim said SCORE was the most attractive corridor for foreign investors because of its opportunities and potential in renewable energy and heavy industries.

“With investments totalling almost RM60bil for SCORE since its inception, it speaks volumes of the business opportunities and investment potential in Sarawak. This is almost one-fifth of the RM307bil total investments SCORE is expected to eventually garner.

“We are seeing and reading about more new investments, some from as far as the Middle East, Far East, Europe, Australia and the United States, coming to Sarawak. This is very encouraging as it means more job opportunities and employment for the people of Sarawak, more wealth creation and new growth areas to propel the state’s economy,” he said.

Muhammad said the October issue would enable readers to find out about Taib’s development philosophy and economic approach, which has benefited Sarawak.

He also said the launch coincided with Malaysian Corridor’s participation in the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area) business conference and expo, which starts today.

“We will showcase some of our corporate activities to create awareness among potential business partners and ensure greater visibility and exposure for the magazine among our corporate readers, delegates and visitors from Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Malaysia,” he said.

Malaysian Corridor is priced at RM12 and is available through subscription and at major bookstores.

MTUC welcomes plans to make Sarawak richest state
Friday October 1, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/10/1/sarawak/7138160&sec=sarawak

MALAYSIAN Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak division yesterday welcomed the ambition by the State Government to transform Sarawak into the richest state through the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“We hope it will help to achieve the aim to be the richest state in the country,” said its secretary Andrew Lo.

“However, learning from past experiences and practises we are very concerned that the wealth generated will not be shared among the workers and lower income group,” he added.

“We note that Chief Minister claims that by 2030, people will earn two or three times more than what they have now. MTUC wishes to point out that three times more than RM12 is only RM36 a day in wages. By 2030 the price of a simple lunch of chicken rice and soft drink will also increase by three times from RM5.70 to RM16.88 (assuming annual inflation at 5%).”

Given the scenario, he said MTUC would like to call on the Government to ensure that wages and income of the working population should also take an exponent leap otherwise “the high income model would just be a fallacy and the income inequality will widen”.

Lo said the government must engaged all stake holders not just investors and businesses so that the state could have an inclusive policy, action plan and implementation of the economic road map for all Sarawakians.

S’wak a ‘rising star’ in M’sian capital market – Rating agencylatest!
by Ghaz Ghazali. Posted on October 5, 2010, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=66902

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/T03021.jpg

CORDIAL: (From left) Liza, Meor Amri and Dr Yeah sharing a light moment before
proceeding to RAM Rating's Raya Get-Together corporate luncheon.

KUCHING: The state is seen as a ‘rising star’ within the nation’s capital market scene, spurred notably by the strength of its developmental projects, particularly in the fields of oil and gas (O&G), infrastructure and construction.

Additionally, the outlook is bolstered further by the ongoing development witnessed in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“Much can be anticipated from Sarawak’s overall growth agenda that is SCORE,” said RAM Rating Services Bhd’s (RAM Rating) chief executive officer Liza Mohd Noor to The Borneo Post yesterday.

“With upcoming projects in the state requiring capital fundings via exercises such as MTNs (medium term notes) programmes, debt securities and guarantees as well as ’sukuk’ issuance – it will spur the healthy movement of the Malaysian capital market.”

The latest of a string of Sarawakian companies that exemplified this development was that of the RM605 million Al-Bai Bithaman Ajil Islamic Debt Securities (2001/2012) engaged by the state’s exclusive electricity provider, Syarikat Sesco Bhd (Sesco).

RAM Rating reaffirmed the AAA rating on the programme, with a stable long-term rating outlook for the subsidiary of the Sarawak Energy Bhd (Sarawak Energy).

“Overall, our view on Sarawak’s participation and contribution into the Malaysian capital market is positive,” added the rating agency’s chief executive.

Liza was met yesterday together with teams from RAM Rating and its parent group, RAM Holdings Bhd (RAM Holdings) in a meeting for its corporate clients at a hotel here, at the same time holding an appreciation luncheon in conjunction with RAM Rating’s Hari Raya ‘Get-Together’ event.

Also attending were RAM Holdings’ group chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng and Bond Pricing Agency Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s (BPA) chief executive officer Meor Amri Meor Ayob. BPA is RAM Holdings’ group corporate partner.

Adding to Liza’s overview, Meor Amri commented, “Sarawak is a highly-potential candidate, in terms of contributing towards the country’s robust capital market. It is just that not much exposure has been given to the state.

“As such, our meeting with clients here as well as in Sabah, is expected to boost this development further. To me, Sarawak and Sabah are two markets that cannot be ignored, especially with regards to participation from the private sector in debt issuance.”

Data from BPA had shown that the public sector continued to dominate debt issuance in the first half of this year, with the total private debt issuance standing at RM 19.7 billion as of July.

“This is expected to reach RM45 billion to RM50 billion for 2010, attributed to the anticipated pick-up in private sector financing activities in the second half,” added Meor Amri.

Sarawak may vary ETP format — CM
by Johnson K Saai. Posted on October 5, 2010, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=66736

KUCHING: Sarawak will subscribe to the federal government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) although it may have to use a different format due to unique local conditions.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud explained that this is because the situation in Sarawak was far different from that in Peninsular Malaysia whereby the population here is scattered all over, making it difficult to develop the whole state uniformly.

“Because of that we need to design our strategy differently and Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) is also completely different from other corridors.

“What we are doing for SCORE is different from the corridors in Sabah or Johor. It is not because we want to be different but the situation here is different and we want to take full advantage of the best potential we can command,” he said.

Speaking at a news conference after opening the ETP Open Day at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel here yesterday, Taib said with the implementation of SCORE the economic activities in the central region in particular and the whole state in general would be further boosted.

“If we do not introduce SCORE, probably Sibu will keep on losing its population while the potential in the surrounding areas will not be easy to develop,” he added.

However, he said, in Sarawak it would not be possible to increase the income of the people without upgrading their skills and trying to match them with the requirements of the respective industries.

He said, in this respect, the state government since three years ago had taken steps to further develop its human resources by providing technical trainings to upgrade their skills.

Unfortunately, he said, the greatest handicap the state had faced in its efforts to upgrade the skills of the people was that most rural schools did not have Internet connection.

“There is not enough Internet penetration to the rural parts of the state and three years ago we created a company to do the WiFi technology in the rural areas.

“Unfortunately it will be too costly to pay links through satellite so we took over the services for flat lands whereas in more remote areas, which are being shielded by mountains and terrains, we have to leave it to the federal government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala, who was among those present at the news conference yesterday, assured that the government would put greater emphasis on the rural population in implementing the ETP.

“We will make sure that the ETP, which will kick-start Malaysia’s drive towards becoming a high-income nation, will include everyone, including the rural population,” he said.

Jala, who is also Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief executive officer, said that the format for the programme however may vary from state to state as it could be realigned based on situations, conditions, suitability and relevance.

Also present at the ETP Open Day opening and news conference were Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani.

Sarawak Energy Plans To Build More Dams
October 07, 2010 19:55 PM

KUCHING, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) plans to build seven new hydro dams and a coal-fired power station over the next ten years, its chief executive officer, Torstein Dale Sjotveit, said today.

He said the new dams would likely be at Pelagus, Baram, Lawas, Limbang areas and the further extension in the Bakun and Murum areas while the coal-fired power station would be at Balingian in Mukah division.

"We now have firm plans to build the new dams. Over the next ten years, we will selling up to 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity -- nine times more than we do today," he said at the company's Hari Raya open house here Thursday.

Sjotveit, however, said the proposed dams had not received the approvals from the SEB board and the state government.

"However, with Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy development, we need a firm discussion with the board and state government by year-end or early next year," he said.

On the funding to build the hydro dams, Sjotveit said: "Sarawak Energy is a solid company, we are able to fund these projects."

Meanwhile, Sjotveit said SEB aimed to go from a local utility company producing between 5,00 and 6,000 gigawatt of power a year to a big regional player producing between 40,000 and 50,000 gigawatt of power per year.

"In the coming years, you will see a lot more changes at SEB," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Maybank commits to provide support to Sarawak
By RINTOS MAIL Saturday October 9, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/10/9/sarawak/7189917&sec=sarawak

MAYBANK has assured Sarawak of its commitment and continuous support to assist the government in realising its ambition to transform Sarawak into a high income state.

Its community distribution and financial services head Mohd Hanif Suadi said Maybank was very passionate and keen to collaborate with the most promising Sarawak Corridors of Renewable Energy (SCORE), by contributing and catering to the needs of financing, especially to the small and medium enterprises that would operate within the corridor area.

“We trust this is one of the key areas where there would be significant growth that could further accelerate the state’s economic development as well as improving the quality of life for the people of Sarawak.

“We can assure you that Maybank is and will be everywhere to help make a better future for every community that we serve, community which we share the same lives with, dreams and hopes,” he said at the launching of “Maybank 50 Years Close To You Carnival” at Permata Carpark in Kuching yesterday.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari officiated at the event.

Mohd Hanif said as community financial services leader, Maybank would also continue to provide appropriate financing and services to property developers, business partners as well as the end buyers in Sarawak.

He said it had been Maybank’s focus and responsibility to provide access to financial services to the community.

“That is why Maybank is the only bank that has the largest network and extensive reach among Malaysian banks,” he added.

He said to date Maybank had 1,750 branches and offices in 14 countries serving 18 million customers.

In Sarawak, he said Maybank had 20 branches, four auto finance centres, five share investment centres, three private banking centres and one full pledged Islamic Banking Branch.

“All these branches and centres are evenly spread out to boost our support to our valued customers in Sarawak,” he added.

Local banks urged to participate in the development of SCORE
Saturday October 9, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/10/9/sarawak/7190764&sec=sarawak

LOCAL banks have been invited to collaborate with the state government in the development of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said SCORE would provide the platform and synergy for the development of more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by opening up increased opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand and develop.

“As SCORE will be developed extensively through greater private sector participation, the support of local banks especially among the SMEs will be very much needed. I believe SCORE will also provide the platform for local banks to make more business and money,” he said at the launch of Maybank 50 Years Close To You Carnival at Permata Carpark in Kuching yesterday.

He said there would be a lot of potential spill-over in terms of new projects to support the 10 priority industries under SCORE, which would also benefit local banks.

Abang Johari said one of the spill-overs would be the development of new housing estates, which would certainly be developed to cater for rural-urban migration.

“This also means opportunities for local banks to be part of the stakeholders and contributors to any development of properties within SCORE,” he said.

Some 1.5mil job vacancies will be created once SCORE’s infrastructure is running at full capacity.

SCORE initiatives to bring economic growth
Posted on November 2, 2010, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=72318

THE state’s economy is projected to grow at 5.0 per cent next year, a result supported by the implementation of infrastructure projects under the SCORE initiatives and projects for rural infrastructures and utilities.

For 2010, the economy is expected to record a strong growth of 5.4 per cent, an increase from 4.5 per cent as announced in May, as a result of stronger economic activities during the first half of the year.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, when touching on the state economic performance 2010 and next year’s prospect, stated that on the supply side, growth would be broad-based led by the service sector.

“The service sector is expected to grow at 7.2 per cent in 2010 with robust trading activities. For the first half of 2010, cargo-related activities at ports in the state increased by 11.6 per cent compared to the second half of last year.

“The air-transport segment grew as passenger volume for all principal airports statewide rose by an average of 9.5 per cent and the air cargo handled increased by 23.1 per cent during the same period. For 2011, this sector is expected to grow at 6.4 per cent,” he added when reading the 2011 State Budget on the first day of the 16th State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

Taib, who is also Finance Minister, mentioned that the manufacturing sector was estimated to grow at 4.5 per cent in 2010, after experiencing a contraction of 0.1 per cent in 2009. The growth was in tandem with the surge in global demand particularly of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and wood based products.

He stated that the manufactured goods recorded double-digit growth in the first half of this year at 21.6 per cent. The state also anticipated the manufacturing sector to continue to do well in 2011 and was expected to grow at 4.5 per cent as the demand remained robust from economies within the region.

The construction sector is expected to grow at 6.5 per cent in 2010 in tandem with the implementation of the stimulus packages, RM1 billion Special Federal Allocations (SFA) and the remaining projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan including the construction of the new Sabah-Sarawak gas pipeline and the Murum hydroelectric dam.

With the implementation of infrastructure projects under the 10th MP by 2011, the sector is anticipated to grow by 5.0 per cent.

Taib also highlighted that the mining and quarrying sector was estimated to grow at 3.2 per cent (2010) with increased production for natural gas, coal and silica sand in the first half of the year.

The production of natural gas grew by 17.4 per cent arising from increased demand from domestic petrochemical industries and major importing countries.

The industry was expected to grow at 3.0 per cent next year as the production of natural gas was anticipated to increase to meet the increasing demands from traditional markets.

“For the agriculture sector, it is expected to register favourable growth of 5.2 per cent in 2010 as a result of the rebound in commodity prices and improved global demand. With the increase in mature areas and the improvement in yields, the production of crude palm oil grew by 7.8 per cent during the first half of 2010.

“However, the sector is anticipated to grow slower at 4.3 per cent next year as global demand is expected to soften during the year,” Taib announced to the August House.

Human Capital Development Must Meet Needs Of SCORE - Taib
November 08, 2010 15:18 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=541536&cat=sre

KUCHING, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Human capital development must be able to meet the needs of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) to ensure the success of this mega development programme.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said that 20 years from now, SCORE which was expected to attract RM300 billion worth of investments would require knowledgeable and highly skilled manpower.

"Therefore, human capital development must be in tandem with SCORE's requirements," he said when winding up the debate at the state assembly sitting, here, Monday.

This way, Taib said, in future SCORE would be able to check the migration of local youths who possessed the skills in various fields of industry to other countries like the Gulf states.

He said the stiff competition at the global level in hiring highly skilled manpower and offering high salaries should also serve as a lesson in the development of SCORE.

Taib also said that under the politics of development, the local people must not be allowed to lag behind in the development process such as in SCORE.

"For SCORE to succeed, we need a stronger and more stable government to gain the confidence of investors and that is why we have continued with the second wave of politics of development."

According to Taib, politics and development could not be separated as this was important to ensure that all the plans drawn up could be implemented.

He said SCORE would be able to streamline the state's development in line with the government's transformation agenda to increase the people's income as all levels.

"The idea to set up SCORE actually came about before the other development corridors in the country were proposed," he said.

On developing native customary rights (NCR) land, Taib said it was not as easy as thought previously.

He said developing NCR land entailed a change in the people's way of thinking and not just in land development policies.

"If the people want change, they themselves must change their way of thinking as development must move in tandem with the way of thinking and actions, then only will it be successful," he added.

-- BERNAMA

SCCI to help bring back professionals for SCORE
by Georgette Tan. Posted on November 15, 2010, Monday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=75193

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/T03547.jpg

EXCELLENT REPORTING: Chan (second right) presenting the SCCI Annual
Corporate Report Awards 2010 to a representative of Ta Ann Holdings Bhd
(second left). Looking on are Liew (centre) and Abdul Karim (far right).

KUCHING: Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has the potential to help attract the Sarawakian professionals needed by the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) to return to the state.

Deputy Chief Minister and Industrial Development Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan said that SCCI can help spread the word that their expertise and manpower are needed at home.

“We are now trying to get these young professionals who will run SCORE to return from overseas and help us,” he told SCCI members during their 59th Anniversary Dinner on Friday night.

He said that the government will continue to do its best to provide basic economic and social infrastructure to create conducive business environments.

“SCCI has been playing its role well by collectively communicating the voices of its members, their concerns and aspirations to the Government, especially to my Ministry and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA),” Chan added.

These were carried out through consultations, dialogues and seminars regularly organised by the ministry, he said.

As a result of these sessions, the Industrial Development Ministry have brought up two issues to the Federal Government.

“These two issues are good proposals to reduce the cost of transportation of goods, hence the cost of doing business in Sarawak by extending tax exemption of shipping profits to ferries, tugboats, barges, lighters and other vessels operating within Sarawak under the Income Tax Act 1967.”

The other is to extend subsidised diesel to coastal vessels, tugboats, barges and other vessels operating within Sarawak under the Skim Kawalan Diesel Subsidi (SKDS), Chan said.

“Our recommendations for these two proposals are justifiable because of Sarawak’s unique geographical factors and the lack of good road linkages to coastal towns and rural settlements,” he added.

“Thus, coastal and riverine vessels plying within Sarawak are playing a crucial and critical role in the livelihood of the rural communities as well as the economy of Sarawak,”

Meanwhile, SCCI President Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Abang Openg said that they will be undergoing a restructuring and strengthening exercise to enable them to perform their task more efficiently and effectively.

“With this, we are confident that SCCI will be able to deliver what is expected of the Chamber. To strengthen SCCI, we hope more business corporations and companies will join as members. At the same time, we will also strengthen our regional committees in Sibu, Bintulu and Miri,” he said.

Abdul Karim said that SCCI will continue to act as a reliable and responsible intermediary between the government and the private sector in areas where it has niche, influence and expertise.

“We will continue to be an active partner with the government by participating in joint effort to promote economic programmes as well as address issues and problems that may improve the development and business growth in the State.”

Present at the celebration were Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Industrial Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Datu Liaw Soon Eng, and event chairperson Rita Liew.

The SCCI Annual Corporate Report Awards 2010 were also presented that evening. The winner for Overall Excellence Reporting went to Ta Ann Holdings Bhd, while the two runner-up prizes went to Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd and Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd.

Meanwhile, the Sarawak State Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2010 went to Chua Chui Tham (Kim Hin Industry Berhad), Chong Kia Hoi (CKH Realty Group), Juita Drep (MASAMA Group of Companies), Ling Chong Kieng (Tanjung Manis Resources Sdn Bhd) and Abdullah Mohamad Noor (Sarahan Constructions Sdn Bhd).

The 59th Anniversary celebrations also included the launch of the Sarawak Business Database, an idea mooted by Chan during last year’s celebration.

The database is a listing of all SMEs in Sarawak which will allow foreign investors to tap the support and resources of local industries as supplier of services, goods and workforce.

Awisar sees skilled workers demand in SCORE
by Justin Yap justinyap@theborneopost.com. Posted on November 26, 2010, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=77145

KUCHING: Automotive Welding Institute of Sara-wak (Awisar) is set to cater the increasing demand for professionally skilled workers for the benefit of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) related projects as well as the overall development in the state.

Awisar was set up by Sarawak Skills Development Centre (SSDC) in collaboration with Sarawak Foundry & Engineering Industries Association (SWKFEIA). It was a partnership between a training and education institution and the industries in an effort to increase the pool of skilled human resource.

Being the first private institution in the state to focus on three main areas, namely welding, automotive and robotic, the institute boasted a total investment of RM13 million.

“SWKFEIA invested RM5 million on the land and the building, while SSDC invested the remaining RM8 million on the courses and facilities,” said SSDC executive director Baharudin Abdullah.

“SCORE being the prime mover of the state economy had generated a lot of opportunities for skilled workers in welding, automotive and robotic field, where those professional skilsl are needed to maintain and operate machinery,” he added.

Baharudin further highlighted that Awisar needed to gain more support from the state government

in terms of sponsoring students to go for this training.

“Participation from the industries would ensure relevancy and viability of technical and vocational education. There are vast opportunities for these certified skilled workers upon completion of the programmes,” he explained.

Currently, Awisar has 100 students since its first enrollment in April. According to the executive director, another 100 students would be enrolled for the programmes next year in January. The institute targeted to produce 600 professionally skilled students yearly.

“By looking at the state development trend, we foresee that the need for these skilled workers are increasing rapidly, especially in the O&G industry, shipbuilding, piping as well as the machinery maintenance in the SCORE projects,” said Baharudin.

He pointed out that a lot of welders in Sarawak are not certified welders and yet a lot were from Philippines, India or Thailand. “That is why we came out with this institution to produce more quality certified skilled workers.”

The courses conducted at the institute were skills based in compliance to the National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS), the Malaysian standard to benchmark the skills and competencies of employees.

“Students will be evaluated based on their competency to perform and complete the tasks stipulated under the standard. Our graduates will be awarded Malaysian Skills Certificate issued by the Department of Skills Development formerly known as National Vocational Training Council,” Baharudin concluded.

State govt to meet PM to finalise Bakun purchase
Posted on December 3, 2010, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=78343

KUCHING: The state government will meet up with the Prime Minister to finalise the buying over of Bakun dam from the federal government, revealed Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The Bakun Dam project is worth a staggering RM7.3 billion and is owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated.

Sarawak has shown keen interest to acquire the dam as it needed extra power to implement its’ projects under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“We are going to have a meeting with the prime minister (on the Bakun Dam). We are waiting for him to arrange his time,” Taib told the media after launching the Sarawak Foundry and Engineering Industry Association Building and Automotive and Wielding Institute of Sarawak at Demak Laut Industrial Estate Phase II, here yesterday.

Sarawak has placed RM7 billion to bid for Bakun Dam.

Meanwhile, Taib who is also the Minister of Planning and Resources Management said Sarawak was targeting to harness 7,000 megawatts of power, mainly from hydro-electricity by 2020 to attract investors into SCORE.

He said among the projects that would require high-intensive power supply are aluminium smelting plants, magnesium plants, pulp and paper plants, glass panel plants and shipbuilding.

Sarawak attracts strong interest
Published: 2011/02/07
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/5SWAK/Article/

SARAWAK first investment mission to the Middle East led by Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has attracted strong interest from the region's business and investment community.

The state is now anticipating high-level delegations from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations by the middle of this month, seeking collaborations in various areas.

"It took us by surprise as this is the first time we introduced Sarawak to the Middle East. It is beyond our expectation ... they wanted to know how to participate in Sarawak as the state has a lot of resources," Tanjung Manis Food & Industrial Park Sdn Bhd executive chairman Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman told Business Times when in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, last week.

Abdul Taib, who led a group of 30 people from Sarawak, was in Abu Dhabi from January 27 to February 3. Also in the investment mission were Planning and Resource Management Minister II and Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan; State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani; Regional Corridor Development Authority chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot; and Sarawak Energy Bhd CEO Torstein Dale Sjotveit.

The trip was held in conjunction with Invest Malaysia 2011 Forum.

Abdul Taib met with investors from the GCC as well as prominent Arab families, including Bader Abdulaziz Kanoo; director of Saudi Arabia's conglomerate Yusuf Bin Ahmad Kanoo Co Ltd.

Norah, who is also Tanjung Manis member of parliament, said the Arabs were interested in various areas in Sarawak such as renewable energy, food production, agriculture and real estate.

She said they are also attracted to the 10 priority industries under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), especially the halal hub and food security.

Tanjung Manis Halal Hub, particularly, has received a lot of enquiries as the current emphasis in the Middle East and North Africa is food security.

Norah said the investors want to utilise cheap energy in the state, particularly hydropower in food production as it lowers the production cost.

Sarawak also has abundant land while the weather allows food production activities throughout the year.

"Their concern is whether they can bring foreign talent in food production such as scientists and food experts," she said.

Tanjung Manis - which sits on over 77,000ha of agricultural land in Sarawak - is one of the components under SCORE.

SCORE is a major initiative to accelerate the state's economic growth and development, as well as improve Sarawakians' quality of life. The core of the corridor is the energy resources, particularly hydropower, coal and natural gas found in abundance within the central region.

Norah said Sarawak is very proactive in co-investment activities, where the state participates with investors in projects.

Asia Minerals plans plant in Sarawak
Published: 2011/02/26
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110226164814/Article/index_html

Hong Kong-based Asia Minerals Ltd (AML) plans to build a manganese smelting plant in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), located at the Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu.

"The setting up of the plant within SCORE would attract multi-billion ringgit investments," said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Taib said this at the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chinese New Year celebration in Kuching last night.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said AML would invest about RM2 billion to RM3 billion to set up the plant.

Dr Chan, who is also the state Industrial Development Minister, said manganese was needed in many industries, such as the steel.

He said the manganese industry needed uninterrupted and cheap power.

"Investors will come in when the power is available. We will offer them competitive and more stable power price which will not fluctuate," he said.

Dr Chan said Sarawak's power producing potential has given the state the edge in attracting power-intensive industries such the manganese industry. -- Bernama

Sarawak registers RM3.9 billion worth of investment for 2010
by Jonathan Chia. Posted on March 9, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=100300

KUCHING: Sarawak registered RM3.9 billion worth of investments based on the approved projects by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) last year.

“The figures showed that the state was the fourth highest in terms of total investment after Johor, Pulau Pinang and Selangor,” said Mida’s director, Hasdi Mohamood.

Hasdi revealed that out of the RM3.9 billion worth of total investments approved in the state last year, RM3.56 billion consisted of foreign investments while domestic investment involved RM388 million.

“Since 2007, the state had constantly improved in attracting investments and currently it is constantly positioned among the top five in terms of investments. I am also confident that the state will be able to maintain its position in the top five in the coming years,” he said.

He added that this was based on the rapid growth of industrial development such as in Samalaju which registered the highest investment of RM2.53 billion last year.

Additionally, from the overall investment registered in the state last year, basic metal products contributed the highest investment of RM2.54 billion, while the electrical and electronic industry registered the second highest with total investment of RM726 million.

“Based on the approved projects in the state last year, a total of 7,083 job opportunities were created, covering various industries that are available in the state,” Hasni said.

Hasdi stated that last year alone, out of the RM47.18 billion worth of investments registered throughout the country, foreign investments dominated with RM29.06 billion compared with local investments of RM18.12 billion.

Mida was established in Sarawak in 1974 as a government agency to promote and coordinate industrial development in the state. Its main function is to encourage foreign and domestic investments in manufacturing and services in the country.

Sarawak To Have Sixth University In Two To Three Years' Time
Thursday, 17 March 2011
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=571550

SIBU, 17 MARCH, 2011: Sarawak is poised to have its sixth university with the elevation of the Laila Taib College, here in two to three years from now.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the move was to meet the demand for more graduates, especially in engineering and technical disciplines, in its regional development corridor or SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy).

"Of the 1.6 million jobs in SCORE up to 2030, more than 52 per cent are skilled jobs for diploma and degree holders," he said in his speech, here last night at the 110th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Chinese Foochow settlement in Sibu.

The government hoped to set up similar institutions in other places as well in order for the state to produce the required number, he said.

Taib expressed the hope that the private sector could assist in this direction.

Meanwhile he called on businessmen from the Foochow community, long known for their great entrepreneuring spirit, readiness to work hard and in taking risks, to help in the development of SCORE.

"There are many new frontiers you can explore, many fields you can exploit.

"Initially SCORE will need foreign investment to start off, but it is going to need you and the people to generate its growth and success," he said.

He said even without formal education, these businessmen had shown their ability to do very well and had pioneered the state's timber industry development, its shipbuilding, seafood production and others.

He said SCORE, for instance, could offer them vast opportunities in the heavy industry's downstream or supporting activities.

"Then there are equally tremendous opportunities in the halal food production using the latest biotechnological techniques to ensure a very high hygiene standard.

"There is, next, the tourism and eco-tourism sector in the pristine interior like Baram and Kapit that you can explore and exploit," he said.

Among the 2,000 guests at the dinner were the grandson and great granddaughter of the late Wong Nai Siong, the founder of the settlement, who are now residing in Australia.

Nine companies investing RM20bil in Score so far

KUCHING: Nine companies have to date confirmed investments totalling RM20bil in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said yesterday.

He said this was apart from the RM2bil investment by a Taiwanese company in the halal industry hub.

“The nine companies have confirmed starting their investments and one of them, Tokuyama of Japan, is already in Score,” he said after officiating at the 1Malaysia Character Building Forum.

He said the entry of foreign investments into Score proved that what the Government had been implementing to date had brought benefits to Sarawak not just from the economic aspect but also job opportunities which were expected to reach 1.5 million in 2030.


Meanwhile, commenting on the aluminium plant in Samalaju which is also within the corridor, he said the Government gave an assurance its implementation would not impact the environment as alleged by certain quarters.

Awang Tengah, who is also State Minister of Public Amenities, said it had been emphasised to the company involved in the project that it should not neglect the environmental factor before being allowed to start operations.

He said he had visited a number of aluminium plants overseas, such as in Australia and Dubai, finding they were built in residential areas and close to towns.

“They have enhanced the technology. What is important is that they must take seriously the environmental impact which is the key factor before implementing the project,” he added. Bernama

Sarawak remains builders' sweet spot
By Sharen Kaur Published: 2011/03/28
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/CON25/Article/

WHILE other Malaysian construction companies have ventured abroad to grow, those based in Sarawak seem content to stay at home as there are still a lot of work.

The chiefs of several Sarawak construction companies admit they are dependent on local projects, but they do not intend to venture elsewhere for the time being.

They feel that they will be kept busy due to sizeable projects coming up under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) and the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

But analysts think that these companies may lose out in the longer term if they continue to stay focused on Sarawak.

But companies like Naim Holdings Bhd said it is not that they don't want to go abroad, but it is because there is so much to do in Sarawak.

"We have offers to do projects in other states, in the Middle East and Indonesia, but we are not keen yet. This is because we are more familiar with Sarawak and there are plenty of projects here to keep us busy," its senior director of corporate affairs Ricky Khoo said.

Phase Two of Score (2011-2015) comprises projects to build dams, roads, housing and flood mitigation, worth several billion ringgit. Under the 10MP, the government has allocated RM4.6 billion for infrastructure and building projects.

Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMS), Naim and Hock Seng Lee Bhd, which have construction projects only in Sarawak, are among the players expected to benefit from new jobs.

CMS group managing director Datuk Richard Curtis told Business Times it has bid for construction projects worth over RM1 billion and expects some awards over the next few weeks.

"We are supplying a lot of construction materials and are well aware of the growing activities in this industry," he said.

But RHB Research analyst Joshua Ng feels Sarawak has been quiet as "federal money is not coming in".

Last year, tenders for 27 road packages mostly leading to upcoming new hydro electric dam projects worth some RM2 billion had closed. The contracts have not been awarded.

Hock Seng Lee, which has RM1.9 billion ongoing jobs, is keen on Tanjung Manis and Mukah, areas which will be developed under Score, its corporate affairs manager, Sonja Gan said.

"Sarawak has a lot to offer. We expect to benefit in reclamation, marine engineering and sand dredging. We are a specialist in this area where competition is minimum," she said.

Count on SCORE for more business opportunities
by Danny Wong. Posted on April 13, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=119305

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/wong2.jpg
CONGRATULATIONS: Wong handing over the president’s document
book to Hu (right), witnessed by (from left) Sia and Di Rong.

SIBU: Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) should not be perceived as being set up for foreign corporate figures only, for the government aims to lure investments from various sectors, including foreign capital, to develop Sarawak further.

Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, in stating this recently, asked businessmen in Sarawak to have confidence in SCORE, revealing that several of the industries which were included in the plan had already been initiated, such as steel, maritime, off-shore petroleum, halal food and tourism.

“We can count on SCORE to create more business opportunities for Sarawakians, which in turn, will enable Sarawak to experience economic transformation,” he said when officiating at the Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI)’s installation ceremony of 22nd executive committee (2011-2012) held at Kingwood hotel here.

Wong, who is also the Environment and Health Minister, pointed out that Sibu, which is the main town in the central region of Sarawak, would benefit from the multiplication effects generated from the plan because of its strategic location in SCORE, which lies in the area between Samalaju and Tanjung Manis.

“Undoubtedly, the pace of development in Sibu will become more rapid in three to five years to come. It is supported by the fact that the road leading to Tanjung Manis had been completely constructed and it is only a matter of time before the road will be handed over to Public Works Department (JKR).

“With the completion of the road, it will only take about an hour or less to drive to Tanjung Manis from Sibu,” he added.

Earlier in his speech, president of SCCCI Hu Yu Siong urged the entrepreneurs to fully equip themselves with adequate capacity to adapt and take up stiffer competition in future.

“In facing stiff competition from outside, the Chamber will organise various training sessions and seminars to impart the latest commercial management knowledge to the members.

“This will enable them to materially grasp the commercial trends in and outside the country. It will upgrade the competitiveness of the corporate sector,” he said.

Furthermore, Hu said the Chamber would also conduct business studying tours with aim to promote trading activities in an effort to open up more commercial opportunities for its members, he disclosed.

Besides, he added that the Chamber would also organise dialogues regularly to disseminate information on financial assistance, financial liquidity and loans provided by the government or banks for the medium and small entrepreneurs. Also present at the event were the People’s Republic of China consulate-general in Kuching, Di Rong and Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sarawak president, Sia Hiong Ngie.

Power purchase deal backbone to SCORE
Posted on June 3, 2011, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/03/power-purchase-deal-backbone-to-scoreby/

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/4955.jpg
DEAL SIGNED : Izzuddin (left) and Hamed Sepawi (right) exchange the power
purchase agreement witnessed by Najib (third left). Also seen (from left) are
Awang Tengah, Taib and Husni. — Bernama photo

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the power purchase agreement signed between Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd and Sesco Bhd yesterday for electricity generated from the Bakun hydroelectric project, will serve as the pillar in charting the success of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

He said the SCORE project was a giant transformation plan for Sarawak and a catalyst for rural development and by exploiting the power resource from central Sarawak, it would prompt industrial development in the state.

“I am happy to disclose that the tariff rate of 6.25 sen per kilowatt hour (kWh) fixed for the sale of electricity generated from Bakun, with an annual increase of 1.5 per cent, is reasonable and competitive to attract investors into Malaysia, especially, to SCORE,” he said before the signing of the power purchase agreement between Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd and Sesco Bhd here yesterday.

Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd is wholly-owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated and Sesco Bhd is owned by Sarawak Energy Bhd and the Sarawak government.

Najib said the federal government was committed to assist Sarawak achieve sustainable economic development in the future.

The 2,400 megawatt (MW) Bakun dam is expected to start commercial production from its first turbine in August followed by subsequent turbines, at an interval of three months, and the eight and last turbine is expected to be fully operational by 2013.

“The Bakun Dam is 98 per cent complete and, as of end-April, was filled with 202 metres of water,” Najib added.

Also present was Sarawak Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The Prime Minister said the construction of the Bakun project would clearly benefit the people and the state.

“I am sure all quarters involved in the successful completion of the Bakun project and SCORE, especially the Sarawak government, will seize the opportunity to not only draw foreign investments into Malaysia but also support the objective of the New Economic Model to turn the country into a high-income economy by 2020,” he added.

Meanwhile, Syarikat Hidro is forecast to earn a minimum revenue of RM36 million this year and RM112 million in 2012.

In a statement released at the signing ceremony, the company said a water levy of RM7 million and RM21 million would be paid to the state government this year and in 2012, respectively.

Once the Bakun dam is fully operational and the power generated is able to be received by the Sarawak grid system in 2016, the Bakun power station will generate 17,500 gigawatt hours of new capacity every year, which would be equivalent to 15 per cent of overall capacity in Peninsular Malaysia and three times the hydro electricity power generated in Malaysia. — Bernama

Naim a strong contender for SCORE projects
Posted on June 16, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/16/naim-a-strong-contender-for-score-projects/

KUCHING: With decent dividend yields of between four and five per cent as well as its niche position in the state, Naim Holdings Bhd (Naim) remains as a favourite pick to benefit from Sarawak’s corridor project roll-out this half of the year.

Strengthening the homegrown group further would be its current order book which stood at RM1 billion.

“Such an order book should provide at least another two years earnings visibility to Naim,” said Kenanga Research, a research unit under Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd, in an online note yesterday.

Moreover, Naim’s order book could technically have been at RM1.9 billion if it incorporated the federal government-endorsed flood mitigation project worth about RM1 billion.

“Nonetheless, the project has been put in shelf for the past four years, pending further direction from the federal government. We prudently exclude the project in our forecast until we have further clarification on the matter,” noted the Kenanga research team.

In terms of financial performance, however, Kenanga Research noted that the Sarawak-based construction player had seen its margin going in a down-trending mode since last year to nine per cent.

“We believe that inflationary in building materials and crude oil prices could have eroded the margin,” it explained.

Kenanga Research further said the previous first quarter’s net profit of RM12 million came short to its full-year forecast as the contribution from the Sabah Oil and gas Terminal (SOGT) project had yet to kick-in during the quarter.

“Earlier, we have imputed in the SOGT earnings contribution to our forecast for fiscal 2011, but we understand that works have just started in the late first quarter of this year. As such, we only expect this project to contribute meaningfully from the second quarter onwards.

“Notably also, Naim has pared down its stake in the joint venture for the SOGT project from 30 per cent to 10 per cent, which we have already factored into our forecast.”

On the positive side, Kenanga Research believed that contributions from the group’s property division should be able to cushion the low margin impact.

“Unlike other pure contractors, Naim has a key advantage in balancing up its earnings from its ongoing property development. We gathered that the remaining GDV (gross development value) is estimated at RM5 billion to date.

“We see this segment should support Naim’s earnings while tendering for more construction works in the near term.”

Another strong support would be its associate Dayang Enterprise Holding Bhd (DEHB), added the research unit.

“Going forward, another avenue for Naim’s earnings will be from this associate.

“With an orderbook of around RM1.5 billion, DEHB will provide some steady recurring incomes to Naim for the next two to three years, riding on positive oil and gas industry momentum,” it underlined.

In line with such earnings revisions, Kenanga Research had reduced its target price on Naim to RM3.98 from the previous RM4.20, but maintaining a ‘buy’ call for the group.

“Moreover, we have also factored in some RM300 million worth of new potential projects to be secured into our fiscal 2011 forecast as we expect another leg of construction run up in this year’s second half, especially in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy infrastructure works,” it said.

Positive outlook on SCORE, S’wak Budget 2012 — SCCI
by Chai Li Tiing. Posted on November 7, 2011, Monday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/07/positive-outlook-on-score-s%e2%80%99wak-budget-2012-%e2%80%94-scci/

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/T05723.jpg

WINNING SMILES: (From fourth left) Photo shows Abang Abdul Karim
accompanying the guest-of-honour for the night, Second Minister of Finance
and Minister of Land Government and Community Development, Datuk Seri
Wong Soon Koh for a photo session with winners of the corporate reporting award.

KUCHING: The State 2012 Budget is expected to emulate its national counterpart as the ‘Rakyat’s Budget’ and skewed to be critical to the development of the state, along with the success of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

The president of Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Abang Openg stated this at the association’s recently-held 60th annual dinner.

“Budget 2012 has allocated substantial funds to support the expansion and development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), believing that they would play a significant role in the socio-economic development of the country,” he said, hoping that the upcoming state budget would also be as business-friendly.

Abang Abdul Karim made such remarks during the event, which celebrated outstanding entrepreneurs and companies with the best corporate reporting in the state throughout this year.

The awards were sponsored by the Ministry of Industrial Development in collaboration with Ernst and Young Malaysia, which acted as the secretariat for the award event.

Despite a number of existing economic concerns, Abang Abdul Karim believed that the government would be addressing this in the coming year to avoid it from happening for a 16th consecutive year.

“The GDP for Malaysia was expected to grow at five to 5.5 per cent this year, and five to six per cent next year due to moderate global economic growth, along with sustainable intra-regional trade and investments, which somewhat offset the sluggish growth in major advanced economics,” he stated.

Efforts to mitigate volatile economic changes might not be effective, said Abang Abdul Karim, seeing that Malaysia was a major world trading nation. However, he further urged attendees to innovate and remain competitive to stay relevant on the global stage.

“To achieve competitiveness, the SCORE project is deemed critical. Since its announcement, it had attracted an inflow of investments into the area.”

Intended to focus on mega projects with high energy and technical input, Abang Abdul Karim noted that its implementation would also have a strong and positive impact on surrounding SMEs as well as supporting sectors such as the services and tourism industry.

SCORE not only for big businesses
Posted on January 14, 2012, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/14/score-not-only-for-big-businesses/

SIBU: Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) does not only benefit big business tycoons, but everyone who invests there.

Speaking at a Chinese New Year gathering last Thursday, Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) president Hu Yu Siong said many people had the wrong idea that SCORE was only for big enterprises.

“It does not matter whether domestically or internationally, the future in SCORE is good, and it would benefit both small and medium enterprises (SME) and big business tycoons.”

He advised entrepreneurs to be long sighted in the competitive world, and to discharge their responsibility of helping those in need.

Person-in-charge of the Methodist Children’s Home, Yong Kie Ho, meanwhile, commended SCCCI for its consistent effort to assist the home financially.
He said SCCCI’s concern for the Home had always brought cheer to the children, especially during festive seasons.

Also present at the function were United Chinese Association (UCA) honorary president Datuk Lau Cheng Kiong and CCK Group chairman Datuk Tiong Su Kouk.

Sarawak’s Igan undergoing rapid development
Posted on January 13, 2012, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/13/sarawaks-igan-undergoing-rapid-development-latest/

SIBU: Once a typical remote settlement of Sarawak, Daro is now undergoing rapid development thanks to better connectivity and development plans earmarked for the district.

Located within the Mukah division, about 60km from Sibu, and within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), Daro is at the heart of the Igan parliamentary constituency.

Just two years ago, Daro was a placid outpost, but within a short period it has been transformed into a lively township.

Daro is fast shedding its sleepy-hollow image and is a hive of commercial activities, with more vehicles shuttling in and out for trade purposes and more inns cropping up to cater to an increasing number of travellers.

Daro and the surrounding districts are well known for their vast palm oil plantations, rubber holdings and fruit orchards.

The Igan constituency is also the home of fishing villages such as Kampung Kuala Igan and Kuala Matu, well known for their seafood, including the local salted fish delicacy, terubok.

Daro owes much of its transformation to the improved road system in Sarawak, especially after the completion of the Sibu-Tanjung Manis-Daro road and the Sibu-Mukah-Daro road.

At present, Daro is within a two-hour drive from major towns such as Mukah, Sibu and Sarikei, but plans are underway to build a bridge across Batang Igan that will cut travelling distance from Daro to both major towns.

A STARK DIFFERENCE FROM THE PAST
Igan’s Parliament Member Datuk Wahab Dollah is certainly pleased to see Daro’s present transformation from a rural outpost that took three hours to reach from Sibu through the express boat and two hours by speed boat, to a lively township connected by roads with other major towns.
Wahab is probably the best person to talk to about Daro and the surrounding areas, because he was Matu-Daro state assemblyman for five terms from 1983 to 2001.

During his tenure as Sarawak’s assistant minister for Infrastructure Development and Communication, Wahab made use of his position to help improve the infrastructure in an area once considered almost impossible to develop, as much of it is located on a river delta.

“Previously, no one would have imagined that this region, covered by jungles and swamps, its path to Sibu and Mukah blocked by Muara Lassa and Batang Igan respectively, would one day see a good road system,” he said.

Wahab told Bernama that almost all the settlements within the Igan constituency are now connected to the main road from Daro to Mukah, and that they also enjoy amenities such as electricity and water.

He singled out the improvement in connectivity as the crucial factor in improving the economic standing of local residents, as they can now sell their produce as far away as Daro and Matu.

ANOTHER BRIDGE TO CROSS
However, Wahab believes the bridge crossing Batang Igan is the development that will serve as the bigger catalyst for the development of the whole of Igan constituency.

“I was told the bridge over Batang Igan, costing RM200 million, has been approved by the state government and is awaiting implementation,” he said.
The proposed Igan bridge will not only cut travelling time to Sibu and Mukah but also to Tanjung Manis, where a deep sea port is being developed for exporting the region’s palm oil.

“I hope that the Igan Bridge will be built under the 11th Malaysia Plan. For the time being, the number of ferries in service at Nanga Kecil connecting Daro with Pulau Bruit should be increased by another two,” he said.

TANJUNG MANIS A CATALYST FOR BOTH IGAN AND MUKAH
Jemoreng State Assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie is betting on the spillover from the development of Tanjung Manis to benefit the whole of Sarawak’s central region.

The development of 70,708 square kilometres of land from Bintulu to Tanjung Manis has already resulted in good road networks enjoyed by people as far as Mukah, and nearby areas including the Jemoreng, Semop and Belawai state constituencies.

Tanjung Manis is the new development hub with shipping, fisheries, wood, and halal food being the signature industries.

Abu Seman, who is also political secretary to the chief minister, said rapid development has changed the face of Mukah, especially with the number of higher education institutions mushrooming there.

Mukah now has Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Mukah Polytechnic, Sarawak Skills Development Centre and Mara Junior Science College.

The transformation of Sarawak’s central region augurs well for the people, and is a testament to the State Government’s long-term efforts to eradicate poverty.

Recoda CEO holds dialogue with media on latest SCORE development
Posted on January 13, 2012, Friday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/13/recoda-ceo-holds-dialogue-with-media-on-latest-score-development/#ixzz1jVMFhhew

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/A01311824.jpg

ENGAGING THE MEDIA: Wilson (standing) presenting the latest updates on the
development of SCORE as (from right) Aloysius, Saudi and Kamil look on
during the ‘60 minutes with CEO’ programme held here yesterday.

MUKAH: Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot yesterday took the opportunity to engage with members of the media to get their insights on issues related to the current media coverage on developments within SCORE, including the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub in Tanjung Manis.

Wilson also provided the local media with the latest updates on the development of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) held in conjunction with the ‘60 minutes with CEO’ program jointly organised by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) and Recoda.

Besides giving the latest updates, a familiarisation visit for members of the media to Press Metal Sarawak Sdn Bhd aluminium smelting plant in Mukah and Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu was organised.

Azam CEO Datu Aloysius Dris, Mukah Resident Saudi Narani and Recoda chief investment officer Administrative Kamil Daniel Yap also attended the programme that took place at the new administrative centre building here.

Meanwhile, according to Aloysius, the ‘60 minutes with CEO’ programme organised by Azam was conceptualised out of a desire to create a fresh platform for both senior media practitioners and leaders of local organisations (in the public and private sectors) to engage with each other effectively so that both sides will be able to gain from their dialogue and engagement.

Sarawak trade mission woos Korean investors
by Philip Kiew, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 12, 2012, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/12/sarawak-trade-mission-woos-korean-investors/#ixzz1jVNEfPG3

http://www.theborneopost.com/newsimages/A01311767.jpg

WELL ATTENDED: A section of the 120 South Korean corporate leaders
attending the Trade and Investment Seminar in Seoul.

SEOUL: Sarawak has much to offer South Korean investors in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment and Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said this in his keynote address at the Sarawak Investment and Timber Selling Seminar and Business Meeting in Seoul yesterday.

“SCORE is one of the fastest growing regional economic corridors of Malaysia that will transform Sarawak into a high income economy by 2020, and it has attracted RM25 billion worth of investments.

“Investors can be assured that once approval is given, the Sarawak government will all always be there to provide the necessary assistance to ensure successful implementation of approved projects and assets such as lands are legally protected,” he said.

He pointed out that among the investments they could look into were halal food production, oil palm-based, petrochemical and ceramic industries, including bio-technology apart from ship-building, electronic and high-tech industries,
A Korean conglomerate is finalising its investment in metallurgical silicon in Sarawak.
Seven Korean companies have invested RM1.14 billion in the last decade, with five in wood-based industries (RM150 million), one in chemical (RM175 million) and one in basic metal (RM815 million).

Awang Tengah said the potentially abundant supply of hydro power of up to 20,000 MW in SCORE area fitted in nicely with the emphasis on green growth by South Korea.

He told the audience that the state which had 84 per cent of its 12.3 million hectares of land mass covered by forest subscribed to sound, transparent and sustainable forest management in line with the guidelines set by International Timber Trade Organisation (ITTO), and had been producing 10 to 11 million cubic metres of logs annually in the past five years, of which only 40 per cent was exported.

Awang Tengah also pointed out that the state had been practising a quota system to regulate log production since the 80s and targeted to produce between 15 and 20 million cubic metres of logs annually from planted forests by 2020.

In commending the Koreans for their support and cooperation in attending the seminar, he hoped the long ties between South Korea and Sarawak through timber trade would result in closer and bigger ventures between them.

Malaysia’s bilateral trade with South Korea was RM36.91 billion, with exports of LNG, electrical and electronic products and petroleum and other products raking in RM19.25 billion between January and September last year.

Sarawak’s export was RM8.94 billion in 2010, and it reached RM6 billion in the first nine months of last year, while import was RM263.6 million. Topping the export list were crude petroleum (RM1.5 billion), plywood (RM224.4 million), veneer (RM23.9 million), logs (RM20.5 million), sawn timber and pepper, while the imports were manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment.

Sarawak’s export earnings from timber was RM7.4 billion in 2010, of which timber and related products exported to South Korea brought in RM701 million.
Awang Tengah also told his audience that the state’s economy grew by 4.5 per cent last year and is expected to grow at five per cent this year.

Among those in the delegation were assistant ministers of industrial development Julaihi Narawi (Investment and Promotion) and Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie (Industrial Estate Development), Assistant Minister of Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh and Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais and other top officials from the state government.

Also present were Malaysian Ambassador to South Korea Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim, Malaysian Trade Commissioner Rashid Mohd Zain, Mida director Mohd Sukepli Embong, Lee Kyu-Tae from International Cooperation Division of Korea Forest Service and members of Korean Timber and Trade Associations.

Locals will be trained for SCORE — Assistant minister
Posted on January 8, 2012, Sunday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/08/locals-will-be-trained-for-score-assistant-minister/

BINTULU: Locals would be given training so that they would have the chance to work for large companies located at the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Rural) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said yesterday that such trainings represented one of the government’s initiatives to develop its human capital.

“Bintulu is the best example of efforts to increase the pool of local skilled workforce,” said Dr Rundi, who is also Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications). He advised parents to focus on job opportunities and not play politics.

“Our chief minister has worked hard for this (developing SCORE) in order to create job opportunities for us all. Hence, teach our children about the skills required to meet the needs of industries sprouting up in SCORE.”

Besides creating the Promotion of Technical Education Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department, which is helmed by Datu Len Talif Salleh, he said the government had also established the Bumiputera Trust Fund to produce a big pool of trained workforce.

“The Bumiputera Trust Fund was established to finance training of young people in technical areas, including engaging in business and participating in the development of SCORE.” He added that since the opening of major companies in SCORE, more than 10 local engineers had been sent to Japan for training.

Samalaju to woo RM20b investment
Published: 2012/01/21
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/SAMALAJU/Article/

KUCHING: The Samalaju Industrial Park in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) is expected to attract RM20 billion worth of investment and 8,000 workers by 2015, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday.

He said response from investors to Samalaju has been very keen, with three industries currently starting construction while water and electricity supply would be made available on time during the first phase from now until the end of 2015.

"Twenty years ago, nothing was done in Samalaju. An area of 6,000ha has been cleared and taken up by the industries while the authorities are now in the process of planning a township to ease the 60km commute to Bintulu," he said here when witnessing the power purchase agreement signing ceremony between Asia Minerals Ltd (AML) and Sarawak Energy to provide 270 megawatts (MW) of power for a contract period of 20 years.

The federal government had allocated a grant of RM500 million to enable dredging works to be carried out at the Samalaju port within the next two years, he said.

He was also confident that Sarawak Energy, which has a supply capacity of 2,500MW at present, would have an installed capacity of 3,900MW by then for the industries in Samalaju.

"By 2015, two hydroelectric power dams, including Bakun and Murum, and two coal-fired stations in Balingian would be fully operational."

On the RM790 million investment by AML to set up a manganese ferroalloy smelting plant in Samalaju, he said Sarawak's relationship with Japanese investors has been very cordial, ever since the first Japanese multinational, Taiyo Yuden, invested in Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone here about 15 years ago.

"As far as the state government is concerned, we go all out to ensure investors get what they want, their operations are smooth and products are delivered on time," he said.

Meanwhile, Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Shigeru Nakamura said there are 39 Japanese companies in Sarawak at present, including in energy-related services, electronic equipment, construction, timber and tourism-related industries.

He was optimistic the first manganese ferroalloy plant would further boost bilateral ties besides helping to promote Japanese investment in the state. Bernama