KUCHING: Newly appointed Singapore Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ariel Tan paid a familiarisation visit to Sarawak yesterday.
One of her programmes was the meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya here.
Jabu told reporters later: “Among the issues discussed were the tourism potential of Sarawak, as we are rich in natural attractions and its close proximity to Singapore. We also discussed Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), government’s transformation programme and policy developments.”
He also clarified that matters on labour supply to Singapore was not raised during the meeting as it was under the purview of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Singapore recently clarified that it did not bar natives of Sabah and Sarawak below the age of 35 from working in Singapore but just that they had imposed a more stringent ruling on import of foreign labour.
The island republic’s Ministry of Manpower said it had tightened criteria on hiring and retention of foreign manpower over the last few years to moderate the growth of foreign workforce and promote productivity-led growth.
To this, Jabu said bilateral relationship between Singapore and Sarawak had always been fine.