A TOTAL of RM361.7 million has been approved under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) for 25 projects, including six Anjung Usahawan projects.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, said five projects – Biovalley Park, Sama Jaya Extension Phase V, Demak Laut Industrial Park Phase 2B Stage 1, the access road at Demak Laut Industrial Park, and Tebedu Industrial Park – have reached completion.
Currently, three ongoing industrial park projects are progressing well and should reach completion by the end of this year. The three are Demak Laut Industrial Park (Phase 2B) Stage 2, Kapit Industrial Park and Marudi Industrial Park.
“In addition, the upgrading works on Rantau Panjang Industrial Park Phase 1, Sibu is also on schedule for completion by the year-end,” he said in his winding-up speech at the DUN sitting yesterday.
Awang Tengah also acknowledged that the physical works on industrial parks in Betong, Demak Laut Phase 2B Stage 2 (continuation) and Samalaju Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Clusters had commenced last month, while the re-tender process for Sri Aman Industrial Park remains under evaluation.
According to him, the sites approved for industrial parks in Bau, Sematan and Rantau Panjang Phase 2 in Sibu are still undergoing the land acquisition process, which should be completed by the middle of next year.
As for Sebuyau Industrial Park, Awang Tengah said the project is experiencing delay due to a certain land dispute.
“However, my ministry is working closely with Land and Survey Department to resolve this issue.”
On projects under federal funding, Awang Tengah – also Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources – said the upgrading works on Sama Jaya High Tech Park costing RM2.5 million was funded by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).
The project is expected to reach completion by April next year, he said, adding that two other projects funded through the federal reimbursable loans are Miri Biovalley Park and Sibu Industrial Park.
He noted that the physical works on Miri Biovalley Park costing over RM60 million was completed in May last year.
Currently, the tender for the supply of the last batch of equipment for the pilot plant facility at Biovalley Park is under evaluation. The facility is expected to be fully operational by mid-next year.
He said the Sibu Industrial Park at Sungai Bidut has been earmarked for general industries and the facility is funded by the federal government under the reimbursable loan scheme.
“In June this year, the federal Ministry of International Trade and Industry had directed that the project be put on hold. Yesterday evening (Monday), we were informed that RM11 million had been allocated for this project in 2019.
“As the site has been acquired under state funds and the project is ready for tender, we will proceed to implement the project in stages,” said Awang Tengah.