Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais
KUCHING: The construction of the new Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex in Tebedu is now apparently on hold following the change of federal government.
Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais said the state government had in fact agreed with the previous federal government on December 28 last year to jointly develop the new ICQS in Tebedu.
He told the State Legislative Assembly that the proposed redevelopment was comprehensive and also covered the Tebedu Industrial Estate and proposed creation of free trade areas to stimulate the economy.
“We are waiting for response from the new federal government on the status of this redevelopment proposal,” he said in reply to Martin Ben (PBB – Kedup).
On a another related matter, he said there is urgent need to normalise cross-border trade at Tebedu which has seen a drop in volume from RM756 million in 2013 to RM93 million in 2017.
As such, he also hopes the new federal government can intervene and help liberalise the border trade affected by trade regulations from across the border.
He pointed out the limited movement of goods due to the imposition of the trade regulations in 2014 and reintroduction of the 1970 Border Trade Agreement, affected not just trade volume but also led to negative sentiments.
“We hope the new federal government with new Prime Minister and the new Minister of International Trade and Industries will assist us in normalisation of trade, so that the situation there can be improved,” he said.
He also said Sarawak had proposed to Indonesia for Tebedu and Entikong, Indonesia to be made special development area where various sectors can be jointly done for mutual benefit of both countries.
“The Sarawak state government will nonetheless continue to promote investment,” he said.