IMPRESSIVE: Taib admiring models of Mukah New Administrative Centre and Mukah Biotech Economic Zone together with (from left) Morshidi, Zaleha, Ragad, Wilson (partly hidden), Leo (right) and others.
MUKAH: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the government is considering building railway tracks connecting Tanjung Manis in Mukah division with Samalaju in Bintulu to enhance transportation facilities within Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) area.
Taib said this in his speech at the official opening ceremony of Mukah New Administration Centre here last Saturday.
Taib was the guest-of-honour at the ceremony also attended by his wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Mukah MP Dato Sri Dr Muhammed Leo Michael Toyad, Federal Secretary Datuk Mohd Yahaya Basimin, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Regional Corridor of Development Authority (Recoda) CEO Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandut, Juara Cahaya Sarawak Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Datin Paduka Zaleha Ismail, Mukah Resident Saudi Narani, heads of government departments and corporate figures.
“There is a need to have railway link to support development of heavy industries and halal hub located at Tanjung Manis, Mukah and Samalaju in Bintulu within SCORE, to transport palm oil, sago, aluminium and other industrial products in bulk efficiently,” said Taib stating further that a feasibility study will be conducted by end of this year.
Taib also disclosed that the acquaculture industry in Tanjung Manis Halal Hub, covering an area of some 40,000 ha, will use modern technology to produce halal food, especially gelatin from fish and marine products.
Taib estimated that Tanjung Manis Halal Hub has the potential to produce about RM5 billion worth of halal products to meet the increasing demand from Muslim and non-Muslim markets in the world, including Asia, Europe, USA and Middle East countries.
Taib also disclosed that Sarawak will continue to harness the potential of producing electricity from dams (hydro energy sources) to save costs in view of rising oil prices as well as utilising more than half billion tonnes of the state’s coal reserves to produce electricity to power its industries and households and using any surplus (of electricity) to power the proposed railway project.
Taib was confident that SCORE initiatives would also spur property development along the coastal areas stretching from Tanjung Manis to Mukah, Balingian, Tatau and Samalaju in Bintulu.
Stressing that SCORE emphasises niche developments to create more than 1.5 million jobs to create a high-income society by 2030, Taib called on parents to send their children to university and technical training institutions to produce quality human capital to become managers, professionals and skilled workers capable of propelling Sarawak towards greater heights of development and progress.
Taib also commended the contractors of Mukah New Administration Centre, which was completed about eight months ahead of schedule. The RM130 million intelligent building with about 21,500 square metres of floor area on a 15-acre site will accommodate Recoda headquarters, two banks and some government offices.
Additionally, Taib also launched phase 2 of Mukah Biotech Economic Zone located on a 20-acre site adjacent to the Mukah New Administrative Centre, to be undertaken by the same contractor — Juara Cahaya Sarawak Sdn Bhd.
Taib also announced that the government will conduct a study on smart city concept for Mukah end of this year.
He declared that heavy industries, halal hub, agriculture plantation and eco-tourism are vital components of development under SCORE.