SCORE needs social scientists — CM

LONDON: The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) will not only need technical knowledge workers but also social science experts to look after the social implications of its development, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

Impact of economic corridor on people seen as part and parcel of its holistic development process

He said most basic physical development involving heavy industries or new industries that develop renewable energy and biotechnology in the economic zone would require the study of society as part of the Score’s holistic development process.

Pointing this out, he called on Malaysian students here to take up sociology and mass communication fields to cater to the need for social scientists in Sarawak.

“Don’t just study political science but consider sociology as well as mass communications,” the Chief Minister said during a luncheon with students from Sarawak here, Saturday.

Taib also said it would be crucial to be able to gain consensus from the Penan or other indigenous communities on a new settlement for a hydro project and to ensure that they are satisfied with the new environment.

“It would require social scientists with good understanding of human behaviour and skills to propose the changes and invite all related stakeholders to participate and implement it,” he said.

Among those present at the event were Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Special Advisor in the Chief Minister’s Department Tan Sri Adenan Satem and Tanjung Manis MP Datuk Norah Tun Abdul Rahman.

Over 30 students participated and asked questions on Sarawak particularly on economy, employment, sports and public infrastructures.

Asked on the lack of transportation system in places like Kuching, he said the state would need economy of scale to achieve better transportation system.

“There is not enough economy of scale, the real effective income in Kuching is about RM1,000 now,” he said, adding that the population should be more than one million people.

He said Sarawak was too big while its population was very small and there were more than 5,000 settlements scattered about three to 30 miles apart.

“Sarawak’s population and standard of living could take another 10 years from now to achieve vision 2020. That’s why we want to become developed nation by the year 2020 and not tomorrow or next year. We know our limitations,” he said.

A high-level delegation from the state government led by Taib will attend several major events here including the inaugural Oxford Global Islamic Branding & Marketing Forum. — Bernama