KUCHING: The state already has a plan to utilise the RM93 million allocation for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Budget 2011 yesterday.
LEAVE A MARK: Taib signs on a commemorative board on the 25 years of the Chief Minaister’s Debate Competition Trophy as Jalani (left) looks on. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the money would be used to improve infrastructure within the SCORE area to attract more investors.
“The RM93 million is good for SCORE. It needs a lot of investments for infrastructure and the return is very good. Already in the plan (to allocate the money) are more roads and international airports to attract investors,” he told reporters after the finals of the Chief Minister’s Debate Competition Trophy at P Ramlee Auditorium in RTM here.
Najib had announced RM850 million for five development corridors with Iskandar Malaysia given the largest portion, RM339 million, while Sarawak a smaller amount.
The other corridor in East Malaysia, Sabah Development Corridor, was given RM110 million while the two in the peninsula namely East Coast Economic Region and Northern Economic Region RM178 million and RM133 million respectively.
On the RM1.2 billion allocation for water and electricity supply in rural areas, Taib replied: “I think the prime minister is very sensitive to Sarawak’s needs. He knows that rural infrastructure has a lot of catching up to do.”
“Thank you to him. He is very nice,” he added.
Earlier in his speech after watching the debate between SMK Kubong Limbang and SMK Marudi Baram on ‘The Domination of the Economy by Developed Nations is a New Form of Colonisation that Threatens the World’, he said the students’ performance was beyond expectation.
“The topic is quite complex but they have showed us how a good debate should be. The standard is equal to that of a university level. I feel very proud of them. They are very talented and it augurs well for their future,” he said.
He said the debate which was first held in 1986 had played a vital role in the learning process of secondary students besides enhancing the usage of Bahasa Malaysia among them.
“As the topics of the debate range from social, politics, local and international issues to economy, it encouraged students to use ideas and knowledge obtained from the internet and television. This is a good effort which should be continued,” he said.
Taib shared his view on the current economic situation – saying that the East or developing countries would gradually become the economic power of the world.
He said the recent 2008 financial crisis had caused developed nations like European countries and US to increase its capital.
“The developed nations have to borrow money from developing countries such as China and Middle East countries to stabilise their financial institutions.
I believe the current economic crisis has created a new economic order,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old competition entered the Malaysia Book of Records for being the ‘Longest Production and Broadcast of Debate Competition on Radio for 25 Continuous Years’.
The competition was jointly organised by the Chief Minister’s Office, State Education Department and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Sarawak Branch.
For 2010, it attracted 203 secondary schools. SMK Marudi Baram emerged champion with its student Paula Bermas Judan judged the best debater.
Also present were Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department, Datin Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Broadcasting director Abdul Jalani Mahmud and State Education director Mortadza Alop.