Rakyat harus bersama kerajaan untuk memajukan Sarawak - YAB Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud

Rakyat dan k’jaan harus berganding bahu memajukan Sarawak: Taib

KUCHING: Rakyat dan kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) harus terus berganding bahu, bergerak bersama penuh dedikasi untuk memastikan Sara-wak membangun dengan pesat seterusnya mencapai status ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi pada 2020.

Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata kerjasama itu juga akan menentukan rakyat di negeri ini terus hidup dalam keamanan, kestabilan, keharmonian selain maju dan progresif.

Beliau berkata sokongan rakyat terhadap dasar kerajaan BN selama ini terhadap keutamaan membasmi kemiskinan, membangunkan pendidikan dan memperhebatkan sistem latihan mesti dikekalkan.

Menurutnya usaha melatih belia serta lepasan sekolah dari kawasan luar bandar untuk menjalani latihan teknikal pen-ting kerana ia dapat meningkatkan kemahiran golongan berkenaan bagi memenuhi keperluan pelbagai peluang dijana dalam Koridor Tenaga Di-perbaharui Sarawak (SCORE) dan seluruh Sarawak.

“Saya amat berterima kasih kepada sokongan dan doro-ngan rakyat yang menyokong penuh dasar kerajaan BN me-numpukan keutamaan terhadap pembasmian kemiskinan, keutamaan kepada pendidikan dan kehebatan latihan.

“Kita mesti berani menghadapi masa depan yang penuh mencabar dan memerlukan persaingan dan inovasi.

“Kita mesti sanggup melengkapkan generasi muda, belia dan lepasan sekolah dengan memberi peluang melatih mereka sehingga mampu mempertingkatkan kebolehan menjadi pekerja efisien, produktif juga menyumbang kepada per-kembangan ekonomi negeri dan negara tercinta,” katanya dalam perutusan sempena Hari Krismas 2012.

Taib berkata untuk tujuan itu maka kerajaan BN telah bertungkus-lumus berusaha gigih membuka enam universiti dan banyak lagi institusi pengajian tinggi di Sarawak memberi ruang dan peluang ramai belia serta lepasan sekolah dapat dilatih menimba ilmu dalam pelbagai bidang kemahiran dan teknikal.

“Disebabkan keutamaan itu maka kerajaan telah me-nubuhkan Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Bumiputera Sarawak (TEGAS) bertujuan melatih belia-belia, lepasan-lepasan sekolah yang kebanyakan mereka datang  dari luar bandar supaya diberi peluang meningkatkan kapasiti atau keupayaan mereka mendapat kerja yang baik seterusnya memberi pendapatan lebih lumayan,” katanya.

Taib juga berterima kasih kepada rakyat pelbagai agama dan keturunan di negeri ini atas sokongan yang padu serta pe-nyertaan hebat terhadap segala pembangunan transformasi dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan BN di bandar dan luar bandar bertujuan memberi manfaat serta kesejahteraan kepada rakyat.

“Saya juga sangat menghargai persefahaman serta sokong-an rakyat terhadap projek-projek transformasi dalam SCORE yang berfokus kepada potensi besar kerana Sarawak dapat menjana serta membekalkan tenaga hidroelektrik dengan kadar mapan, lestari diperbaharui dalam kaedah yang memberi daya maju ekonomi kepada pelabur-pelabur industri-industri intensif tenaga di Samalaju dan kawasan SCORE lain.

“Pembangunan SCORE akan membuka peluang ke-pada ramai pekerja yang mempunyai kemahiran dan kepakaran,” katanya.

Dalam perutusannya itu juga Ketua Menteri berkata kerajaan negeri menghargai kerja-sama rapat antara kerajaan pusat atas peruntukan kewangan untuk gereja dan rumah-rumah ibadat serta bantuan kewangan sekolah mubaligh dan Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJK) Cina.

“Saya menghargai kerjasama yang rapat antara saya dan Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak serta berterima kasih kepada Perdana Menteri yang bermurah hati meluluskan peruntukan kewangan untuk gereja dan rumah-rumah ibadat serta bantuan kewangan sekolah mubaligh dan SJK Cina,” ujarnya.

Posted on December 25, 2012, Tuesday

Vox Populi

Oleh Muda Tengah

Vox Populi?

Social Media users and commentators does not represent the voice of the majority.

Is it time for the silent majority (56% voted for BN Sarawak under YAB Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud in 2011 Sarawak elections while only 41% voted pakatan pembangkang) to speak up?

For too long, small but vociferous groups has appeared to dominate the public debate in Sarawak.  Its members are quick to comment on news and sometimes does reflect the sentiment held by a small minority of the populace.  But most times these groups makes bold declarations and outright lies that may not sit well with the majority.  These groups usually compels government leaders and departments to pre-empt their judgements or to respond to supposed 'crises' as per to the desires of these groups.

Most of the time these groups are very intolerant of criticism and differences in opinion, regularly responding to fair-minded government symphathyzers with a vindictiveness that is akin to bullying.

All of which  might be somewhat acceptable, IF social media truly represents the majority of the Sarawakian people.

To be sure, social media is a force to be reckoned with.  The supposed 'democratising' power of social media is allowing urban dwellers to speak up and be heard very loudly.  The rural Sarawakians however are still left voiceless as their voice have been hijacked by the likes of sarawakreport and freemalaysiatoday whose editors (all anti-government) write as they please and put it out as the voice of rural Sarawakians.

Every urban city dweller in Sarawak has access to internet but social media users, especially the active ones, do not represent the majority of the populace, by far.

And if this is the case, it begs several questions about the power of social media.  Namely is its impact and influence disproportionate to its actual size?  Are ministers and government departments paying more attention to it than is justified?

It can also be worrying when social media speaks so loudly that its voice is taken to be that of the majority by decision makers or when it manipulates public opinion.

Sarawakians and Malaysians in general have to sieve through these sensational portals and its facebook groups to recognize the masterminds and their agendas behind it.  Come the next parliamentary elections the 'wisdom' or 'lack of wisdom' of voters will decide the fate of their children and grandchildren.

PKR-controlled Ampng Jaya Council praises MBKS (under BN Sarawak) for proper planning and good environment

Delegation from Selangor visits Stutong Community Market

Posted on December 13, 2012, Thursday

WARM GREETINGS: Muhamad shaking hands with a hawker.

KUCHING: The delegation of 35 members from Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (AJMC) Selangor visited Stutong Community Market here yesterday as part of their study trip.

In town to exchange ideas with the local councils, they were accompanied by Kuching City South (MBKS) Mayor Datuk James Chan.

AJMC chairman Datuk Muhamad Yacob said he found the market clean and properly managed.

“It was good to see the close relationship between the hawkers and MBKS as well as between hawkers and customers,” he commented.

There were objections to the market when it was built in 2008 but the councils and traders came to an agreement.

“Stutong Community Market looks like a mall while the one in Ampang Jaya is smaller,” the AJMC chairman said in jest.

He said Ampang Jaya is 25 to 30 years old with a population of about 600,000.

Compare that to Kuching’s 200,000 population which makes Ampang Jaya look sort of crowded.

He said Kuching city folks are lucky that it is still a spacious green city.

“Kuching city is properly planned. After a few visits to Kuching, I find the environment has improved including roads and surroundings,” he said.

His delegation arrived in Kuching on Dec 10 for the three-day trip. After visiting Stutong Community Market, they moved to Satok Market.

They left for Ampang Jaya yesterday.

Belajar dan membangun diri lebih baik dari 'over politicking'

Lebih baik habiskan pengajian sebelum bertanding pilihan raya

Posted on December 18, 2012, Tuesday

KUCHING: Langkah kerajaan membenarkan pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU13) jelas menunjukkan keterbukaan dan ketelusan kerajaan dalam mentadbir negara.

Namun di sebalik keterbukaan dan ketelusan itu, langkah kerajaan membenarkan pelajar IPT bertanding pada usia yang belum matang dalam arena politik mungkin akan menghancurkan masa depan pelajar itu sendiri.

Timbalan Naib Canselor Hal Ehwal Pelajar dan Alumni Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Prof Madya Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman yang khuatir pengajian pelajar akan terjejas jika bertanding berkata beliau tidak menghalang jika itu pilihan mereka.

Tetapi menurutnya, perlu diingat bahawa status sebagai seorang pelajar perlu dilepaskan jika memilih untuk bertanding sebagai calon PRU13 yang mana ia merupakan satu keputusan yang kurang bijak untuk seorang pelajar yang masih cetek ilmu di dada.

“Saya secara peribadinya tidak menghalang jika ada di kalangan pelajar IPT ingin bertanding sebagai calon pada PRU13.

“Tetapi sebagai seorang yang lebih dewasa bergelar bapa dan ahli akademik, saya tidak menggalakkan mereka mengorbankan pelajaran dan masa depan mereka untuk sesuatu yang belum pasti menjamin masa depan mereka.

“Mengapa tidak menghabiskan terlebih dahulu pengajian di peringkat universiti dan melengkapkan diri terlebih dahulu dengan ilmu, pengalaman dan kepakaran yang mencukupi sebelum memasuki dunia politik,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika dihubungi semalam sebagai mengulas kenyataan Menteri Pengajian Tinggi Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin yang membenarkan pelajar IPT bertanding pada PRU13.

Kebenaran itu menurut Khaled merupakan tanda kerajaan mengiktiraf fungsi dan sumbangan serta kematangan daya pemikiran mahasiswa di negara ini pada masa sekarang.

Tambah Fadzil, sebagai seorang yang bertanggungjawab dalam hal ehwal pelajar, sukar untuk seseorang pelajar itu membahagikan masanya untuk pengajian dan kerjaya sebagai ahli politik di luar kampus.

“Untuk menjadi seorang ahli politik yang berkaliber, pertama ia menuntut ilmu dan kebijaksanaan.

“Pelajar merupakan golongan muda yang mudah terdorong kepada sentimen disebabkan taksbi kepada sesuatu perkara atau isu.

“Disebabkan sikap ekstremis ini ia akan mendorong kepada sentimen-sentimen tertentu yang tidak baik untuk negara,” katanya.

Jelas Fadzil lagi, tiada jaminan bahawa pelajar yang terlibat dalam politik tidak akan berpolitik di dalam kampus jika berjaya menjadi wakil rakyat.

Lebih membimbangkan apabila pengikut-pengikut dalam kampus turut serta dalam aktiviti berkempen dan sebagainya sehingga mengabaikan pengajian yang mana akhirnya mengundang kepada kegagalan.

“Politik adalah bermusim, selepas lima tahun jika tidak dipilih lagi bagaimana nasib mereka jika tidak dibekalkan dengan ilmu yang secukupnya serta masa depan yang kukuh.

“Justeru, pelajar-pelajar di luar sana yang mungkin berhasrat untuk bertanding seboleh-bolehnya tamatkan pengajian terlebih dahulu.

“Meskipun saya tidak menghalang pelajar untuk bertanding tetapi dalam hati kecil saya ada rasa kurang selesa dan khuatir ia akan menghancurkan peluang pelajar untuk berjaya di luar sana,” katanya.

Sarawak has to be defended from economic attacks and sabotage

By Muda Tengah

For the past few months PKR, DAP and its controlled NGOs have been conducting a massive smear campaign against Sarawak to sabotage SCORE.  But does Sarawakians realize DAP, PKR and its NGOs are depriving Sarawakians of millions of jobs in the future?

The old economic model of cheap labor to attract FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) has been outdated for the past decade.  Sanmina plant closure recently shows that the past economic model isn't viable and competitive.

Sanmina closed due to relocation to China

by Lim How Pim, Lian Cheng, Phyllis Wong and Anasathia Jenis, reporters@theborneopost.com. Borneo Post on November 2, 2012, Friday

HELP US, PLEASE: Retrenched workers demand that the state government step in to help them obtain better retrenchment benefits during a protest in Samajaya. — Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: The closure of Sanmina-SCI Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, Kuching (Sanmina-SCI) was the result of its San Jose headquarters’ decision to cut cost and move its operations to its new facility in Wuxi, China.

In a full transcript of Sanmina-SCI’s report on fourth quarter fiscal yearend 2012 earnings made available on line by Seeking Alpha, a Stock Market News, Opinion and Analysis specialist, its CFO Bob Eulau said the closure of the Kuching facility would help to cut cost by USD3 million to USD5 million on a quarterly basis.

“This was a difficult decision, but one that we believe positions us for better financial results in both the short and long term,” said Eulau.

The transcript which recorded real time discussions on Oct 31 also revealed that the decision to expand its printed circuit board manufacturing capacity in Wuxi China was made a couple of years ago and that an experienced team has been in place in Wuxi.

“With this closure, we were able to transfer a significant portion of the equipment in that factory (Kuching) to our new building in China.

“Our estimate is that we are saving approximately USD20 million to USD22 million.

“Once we complete this transition, we will have eliminated approximately USD3 million to USD5 million in costs that would have continued to be incurred on a quarterly basis. The payback period for this closure should be about six to nine months.”

The reports also quoted Wamsi Mohan, an analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, who was among nine analysts present at the discussion posing the question to Eulau with regard to the closing of the Malaysian facility: “Your Malaysian footprint was about 5 per cent of your revenues; are you completely closing the Malaysian facility or is it a subset of that facility?”

To which chairman/CEO of Sanmina Jure Sola replied that the company was leaving some technology engineering group there that would be working on some research and development.

“We are not going to be manufacturing printed circuit board at that factory in the future. It’s a really high technology product, and based on present demand and future demand, we believe we can provide a better solution from China.”

  

Borneo Post end.

Sarawak and indeed even Malaysia cannot compete with China or even Vietnam in attracting FDI based on cheap labor alone.  West Malaysia is far more competitive than Sarawak in terms of infrastructure and international connectivity.  West Malaysia  has bigger and more diverse pool of human capital to offer MNCs (Multinational Corporations) to attract FDIs.  West Malaysia with its bigger population has a bigger consumer market than Sarawak.  So Sarawak is presently in an even more disadvantagous position than West Malaysia in atrracting FDIs.

The only way for Sarawak to remain competitive in the South East Asian or global market is give an added competitive factor to its offering to MNCs.  According to American and European surveys the future of manufacturing is automation.  In other words the most competitive factories in the future will be a factory with less human workers and more machines.  Therefore the overhead costs of such a maufacturing facility will have less manpower and more machine power.  Robotics and precision machinery is making it more competitive to produce products with less manpower.  The costs for manpower will be less and the cost of electricity will be more.  Therefore it would stand to reason that MNCs will look at power costs as a significant factor when they make their FDI decisions.

Tapping Sarawak's potential Hydro power is the only way to create millions of jobs for our children and grandchildren.  A combination of high skilled human capital and very competitive power rates will allow Sarawak to compete with West Malaysia and even other South East Asian countries in attracting FDIs.  This has been the vision of our YAB Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud for the past few years.  This is for all our children and grandchildren.

Sadly the opposition have taken upon themselves to destroy this future for Sarawakians.  They are willing to say and do anything to sabotage Sarawak SCORE.  PKR and DAP creates lies and spread slander on Sarawak's leader and the major infrastructure components that will make SCORE a success.  They don't care if more and more plant closes in Sarawak and no new FDIs come in to create replacement or new job opportunities.  The only thing PKR and DAP care about is to incite hatred towards Sarawak's leader and use Sarawak as part of their power grab of Putrajaya.

They use 1 or 2 locals and send them overseas pretending that these few people represent the majority of rural Sarawakians (the truth is a big majority of Sarawakians voted in this State Government and supported SCORE as their future).

 Peter Kallang misrepresent himself as leading majority of rural Sarawakians and spreads misinformation overseas

James Nyurang and Peter John Jaban

They admit (read below PKR-controlled FMT website) that they target to destroy SCORE by attacking the expertise or the foreign companies that can make SCORE a success.

Next target is Sjotveit, Norconsult

FMT Staff

 | December 6, 2012

Why is a reputed Norwegian hydropower company, Norconsult, supporting violations in Sarawak's mega dams project? ('violations' is pakatan controlled fmt subtle labelling (to imprint in reader's minds) and not proven or accepted in any court of law)

KUCHING: With Hydro Tasmania succumbing to public pressure and committed to phasing itself out of Sarawak following a damning national-level Australian campaign launched last week over its involvement in the Murum dam project and the ill-treatment of native communities here, focus is now on Sarawak Energy Bhd’s (SEB) Norwegian CEO Torstein Dale Sjotveit and Norconsult, another key player in the project.

Save River network, a coalition of Sarawak NGOs, and the Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) want Sjotveit and Norconsult out of Sarawak for the same reason they pushed for Hydro Tasmania’s pullout.

Having successfully mobilised Australians to pressure their government into compelling the pull-out of state-owned Hydro Tasmania from Sarawak, the group is now seeking to use the same modus operandi to purge Sjotveit and Norconsult from the state.

The coalition’s success with Hydro Tasmania was closely linked to it having anchored the support of Australian Greens party. The Greens are in a formal alliance with the Australian Labor Party in the Tasmanian Parliament.

The party together with Save Rivers launched a campaign last week which led to Hydro Tasmania’s announcement that it would withdraw from Sarawak by the end of 2013.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, BMF said they will continue with the campaign to save the rivers and the natives.

“We will continue with the campaign. The spotlight will now focus on the role of Norwegian expats and consultants in the Sarawak dams programme, such as the Sarawak Energy CEO, Torstein Dale Sjøtveit, and Norconsult.

“[We want to know] why are Sjøtveit and Norconsult involved in a project that Hydro Tasmania found unfit to support? ” said the statement.

Norconsult, which described itself as the “largest consulting engineering company in Norway” is assisting SEB in the development of the Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy (SCORE). It is a pet project of Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.

‘The sun will still rise’

by Lim How Pim, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 7, 2012, Friday

APPRECIATION: Taib looks at a memento presented to him by vice-chancellor and president of Swinburne University of Technology Prof Linda Kristjanson after the opening ceremony as Swinburne Sarawak pro vice-chancellor and chief executive Professor Ken Heskin looks on.

No impact if Hydro Tasmania pulls out of Sarawak, says Taib

KUCHING: Sarawak’s hydro-electric industry will remain intact even if Hydro Tasmania pulls out of the state by the end of next year.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is completely confident that another corporation or two would join the state’s efforts to boost its renewable energy development.

Met by journalists here yesterday, he believed that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had their agenda which did not seem to tag along with the state government’s visions.

“That has nothing to do with technology and it is part of the NGOs’ politics. Well, they pull out, never mind. We can have somebody else.

“Bukan kerana ayam tak kokok, hari tak siang (It does not mean that there is no daylight if the cock does not crow),” he said after opening the Swinburne Sarawak Research Centre at the university’s campus here.

He was asked to respond to an online report that Hydro Tasmania would leave the state by the end of next year due to strong pressure from local and international NGOs.

End of Borneo Post.

If Sarawakians are taken in and fooled by this PKR and DAP strategy what will be the future of employment in Sarawak?  West Malaysia and other South East Asian countries will take off leaving Sarawak behind with no competitive economic base.  Millions of Sarawakians will have to look for jobs in China (as per the below thestar newspaper article) or Vietnam.

Sunday December 2, 2012

It’s tough but so is life

By YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my

KUCHING: A number of retrenched Sanmina-SCI Corporation (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd workers are going as far as China for new employment.

Spokesman for the group of retrenched workers James Jalai Gayau, 43, said a handful had actually secured similar jobs in China and would be moving there soon.

“Some of them are going to China, not with Sanmina-SCI; they found jobs with other companies there. It’s tough. I ask you, how many of us can find printed circuit board (PCB) jobs in Malaysia?” Jalai told The Staryesterday.

“A few others have also followed Sanmina-SCI to China, mostly the higher ranking staff who are going to finish their contracts so they can get their bonuses. After that, they will come back and face the same problems that we have here,” said Jalai, who worked at the just-closed factory for 16 years.

End of thestar article.

It is my hope that all Sarawakians look at SCORE rationally and analytically.  Sarawak's leader is trying to create a strong economic future for Sarawakians.  We can help or we can destroy our own future. 

Swinburne University Sarawak menjangkau kemajuan lebuh tinggi

Swinburne vice-chancellor: RM40m for research centre to reach new heights

Posted on December 7, 2012, Friday

SEALING PARTNERSHIP: Taib (third right, standing) and Kristjanson (second right, standing) witness the signing of memorandum of understanding between Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Biotech Alliance International Sdn Bhd, Algaetech International Sdn Bhd and Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia Sarawak branch.

KUCHING: The Swinburne Sarawak Research Centre for Sustainable Technologies will see an investment of RM40 million over the next couple of years to bring its research achievements to new heights.

Vice-chancellor and president of Swinburne University of Technology Prof Linda Kristjanson said the centre provided a venue for individuals with the relevant expertise and passion to interact so as to generate new ideas.

In addition, it focused on research efforts from across the campus with common emphasis on sustainability, she said before Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud opened the new centre at the university campus here yesterday.

Kristjanson pointed out that the centre would host over 20 postgraduates, five postdocs and visits from world renowned expertise, particularly those from the Melbourne campus.

“Laboratories across the campus are associated with the work at the centre. This includes our biotechnology, chemistry, electronics, civil and robotics laboratories.

“The centre is also linked to our supercomputer at Melbourne campus, which is among the most powerful in Australia for research simulation work.”

She announced that Swinburne Melbourne prided itself in having appeared in the top 500 of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) for the last few years in a row.

“Swinburne University of Technology aims to be recognised not only for high quality research but also for research that is relevant and engages with the community, industries and government.”

Hence, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with three institutions to explore the possibilities of joint research projects. The partners are Biotech Alliance International Sdn Bhd, Algaetech International Sdn Bhd and the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia Sarawak branch.

According to Kristjanson, Biotech Alliance International Sdn Bhd is a hugely successful locally grown biotech company with international presence in Australia, China, Myanmar and Indonesia. It is a bio-nexus status company that specialises in environmentally sustainable oil palm waste management systems. True to their strong roots in biotechnology for oil palm, the company has also successfully developed and marketed its very own bio-fertiliser and bio-fungicide.

Algaetech International Sdn Bhd is a company based in Kuala Lumpur that spearheads the technology used in algae cultivation. It has businesses in Indonesia, the Middle East and Africa. Last year, the company was officially recognised as one of the top 100 SMEs of Malaysia.

Starting off as a technology provider for algae cultivation, the company is now venturing into large scale biodiesel production using algae, which is biodegradable, renewable and sustainable.

Kristjanson said the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia Sarawak branch had given the university campus good and wise inputs into the development of its engineering programmes’ curriculum.

“The association has a very good understanding of the engineering needs in the real world. We now look forward to their inputs to our research direction, and for them to be the springboard for us to engage with engineering firms nationwide.”

She also disclosed that the research centre would soon receive several support schemes including an internal funding of up to RM300,000.

“I hope our current and future research partners will take this opportunity to work with us. With now the research centre and support we are getting as well as our past achievements, I truly believe the best is yet to come.”

SCORE menjadi tumpuan

IN DISCUSSION: Taib (right) discusses something with Adenan during a photo call with recipients of the Chief Minister’s Special Award. – Bernama photo

SCORE our main devt thrust — Taib

Borneo Post on December 6, 2012, Thursday

KUCHING: The emerging Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) will heavily dictate how the state shapes its educational development and economic planning for the future.

This is because the state seeks to make SCORE the main development thrust to provide strong and stable economic growth, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, considering that SCORE will be able to relate to the development of the global export market, producing many intermediate manufactured products through its heavy industries related to steel and renewable energy.

At the same time, he said, the state would prepare sufficient manpower to meet the needs of the industries, projected to generate more than 1 million jobs by 2030, through extensive educational development plans.

“In the past, the state had to look into agriculture and agro-based industries to complement the slow growing industrialisation development here due to the limited domestic market. Sabah and Sarawak, despite strong economic collaboration, could not provide a strong impetus due to insufficient infrastructure in place to serve its wide area when compared to the peninsula.

“In this sense, the state had to skip the phase of industrialisation in regards to imports substitution industries as the state could not take full opportunities on such development.

“SCORE is the new development method the state will rely on, taking full advantage of its sustainable hydro energy to counter the increasing prices of bio-fuel,” said Taib when officiating at the 2012 Chief Minister’s Special Awards presentation ceremony at Hilton Hotel here on Tuesday.

Also present at the event co-organised by the Sarawak Foundation and Education Department were Special Functions Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem who is also the foundation’s chairman, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani, State Federal Secretary Datuk Mohd Yahaya Basimin and state Education director Abdillah Adam, among others.

Highlighting that about 32 per cent of job opportunities in SCORE will require skilled and semi-skilled workers, Taib asked Sarawak Foundation to assist in looking for the best approach to promote education based on technical skills among students in the state.

“After designing the right kind of education to suit our economic development, we should concentrate our efforts in this initiative. Technical education has emerged important to our development, considering our changing way of life which requires us to be involved heavily in the manufacturing sector.

“The export industry here is also growing significantly, where a favourable balance of payment of the country each year has been contributed by the state.

“The export aggressiveness among Sarawakians has grown to substitute the inability to be heavily involved in the import substitution industries. Considering all these, there is a good reason for the state to plan its education system based on certain line of skill development that can assure good employment opportunities,” he explained.

Despite certain quarters suggesting that the state focus on developing tourism and other industries rather than building hydroelectric dams, Taib stated that income generated from these industries would not even reach half of the employment opportunities and other rewards that SCORE could give to Sarawakians.

Alam sekitar tanggungjawab dunia bersama - Adenan Satem

Environmental conservation a global effort — Adenan

by Johnson K Saai  theborneopost.com. Posted on December 4, 2012, Tuesday

ALL SMILES: Adenan (second right) sharing a light moment with NREB officers after a group photo session at the launch of the conference. — Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: Preserving and protecting the environment require global efforts, thus it is vital that Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) establish close cooperation with neighbouring countries in handling environmental issues and phenomena, said Minister of Special Functions Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem.

He pointed out that no single country in the world could say it had nothing to contribute towards safeguarding the environment as it was the duty of everyone.

“There must be a global effort. You may say we are only a small country and whatever we do will not bring any impact to the global environment which is wrong because everybody must chip in their part,” he said.

He said environment was a global matter and therefore there must be cooperation, especially between neighbouring countries.

“We must have cooperation from neighbouring countries because this is a global matter. For example, the haze from Kalimantan cannot say to itself let’s stop at the border with Malaysia.

“There is no such thing so you need international cooperation with our neighbours and they need our cooperation. There must be a global effort,” he said.

In this regard, he said NREB must work together with other relevant agencies, bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“Our officers must associate themselves with international efforts…must know what is going on in other countries also and not just within the local scene,” he said.

He said being the leading environmental manager in the state, NREB should also think well beyond curing the damages caused to the environment over the years, stressing that its officers must not only know what they were doing but most importantly must be able to predict and pre-empt all possible consequences if laws and regulations to protect and safeguard the environment were breached.

“To cure is fine but it is even better to prevent it from happening in the first place because prevention is always better then cure.

“So you must have a capacity in doing something new. Capacity to predict what is going to happen…capacity to pre-empt what is going to happen if you don’t follow this or that,” he said.

Adenan, who is also NREB chairman, said this when opening the NREB senior officers’ conference (SOC) 2012 at a leading hotel here yesterday.

He said it was pointless for a country to have laws and regulations to protect the environment if they were not implemented properly and fully.

“We can have beautiful elaborate comprehensive laws but if they are not implemented properly and fully it will not achieve what we have set on. The laws are as good as the implementation,” he said.

State environmental quality controller Peter Sawal also spoke at the conference.