IN UNISON: (From left) Yaw Hang, Chan, Naroden, Awang Tengah, Julaihi and Alan Sim pressing a button to launch the Vivacity Megamall and Jazz Suites 4 project. — photo by Chimon upon.
KUCHING: The state government plans to create more jobs with relatively higher salaries to stem the outflow of youths and to lure those working elsewhere to return.
Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the government was mulling this policy as salary disparity was draining the state of young manpower.
“The Barisan Nasional (BN) emphasises a lot on job creation, and with an aggressive policy to create more jobs, especially high paying jobs, we hope we can retain our youths to stay back in Sarawak and help us develop the state.
“We also want to lure those who are working overseas to come back,” he said at the launching of a new commercial complex cum condominium project, Vivacity Megamall and Jazz Suites 4, at Hilton Hotel here yesterday.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Industrial Development (Investment and Promotion) Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato James Chan, and Coramax Sdn Bhd managing director Sim Yaw Hang and director Alan Sim.
Awang Tengah said Vivacity Megamall and Jazz Suites 4, which is the initiative of local firm Coramax Sdn Bhd, would create about 2,000 job opportunities for locals.
Citing the solar panel fabrication plant in Samajaya as another example, he said that project would create 1,500 jobs.
On another matter, Awang Tengah, who is also Industrial Development Minister, urged property developers not to overlook the needs of handicapped people when building residential or commercial buildings.
He said he was aware of their desire to pursue projects with modern designs, but the end product should be inclusive and people friendly.
“While the designs must be beautiful and safe, the needs of handicapped people must be seriously looked into.”
He added that the environmental aspects, such as the need to green projects such as condominiums, must also be looked into.
“My advice to developers is to spend more money on trees and landscaping as part of your contribution to the society in the form of cleaner air,” he said, adding that they should work closely with local councils.
Meanwhile, Chan said it was important for the government, private sector and the people to work closely together in the name of sustainable development.
“MBKS aims to be a high performing local government that is proactive, sustainable, socially inclusive, locally integrated and globally competitive,” he said.