BINTULU: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched the multi-billion ringgit Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy yesterday, an extensive development plan to lift the population’s standard of living by utilising the state’s natural resources.
The prime minister said the Sarawak Corridor or Score would transform the state by the year 2030.“I put my faith in the quality of human capital in the state and I am confident that you can be on par, if not better, than the other states in terms of holistic development which would benefit every strata of society,” Abdullah said to a cheering crowd of more than 10,000 at the waterfront here.
“The government is committed to ensuring the success of Score with our partnership with the private sector but this doesn’t mean that ordinary people will be left out. There is room for everyone in this specialised development plan.
”Pointing out that a positive mindset was as important as the necessary human capital, Abdullah said the billions of ringgit in investment in Score must be complemented with commitment and hard work from all concerned.
“What we are launching is a masterplan which is achievable by 2030. We are not starting from zero but from a comfortable platform. As Malaysians, we have the capabilities and what we need to do now is just add value.
“If we are able to add value to our capacity and capabilities, then I am sure that we will be successful,” Abdullah said. Score, with a total investment target of RM334 billion over 23 years, is the last of the government’s regional development corridor initiatives, which kicked off with the Iskandar Development Region in southern Johor.
Fifteen per cent of the overall investment figure is to be pumped in by the federal government, four per cent by the state government, 23 per cent by government-linked companies and the rest by local and foreign private investors.While spelling out the details of the development framework, Abdullah also emphasised the environmental aspects of the vast initiative.
“I directed the formation of a Green Development Framework to ensure that development, particularly of our energy resources, will be conducted in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner.
“We must protect the environment because that is what the people and environment-conscious investors are looking for,” the prime minister said.The other regional development initiatives are the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) and the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC).
Encompassing a whole range of industries, from downstream oil-based production and aquaculture to high-tech ventures such as state-of-the-art aluminium smelting and specialised glass-making, Score is set to blaze a trail in this part of the country.
Score will be managed by the state’s Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda).The Regional Corridor Development Authority Ordinance passed by the Sarawak state legislative assembly in December spells out Recoda’s role and responsibilities in implementing projects and plans under Score.
Recoda’s target by the year 2030 is to ensure the creation of 1.5 million new job opportunities and achieve a gross domestic product per capita growth of 5.5 per cent per annum.
Huge hydroelectric generation prospects and the vast natural stock of coal (estimated at 1.5 billion tonnes) and natural gas (estimated at 40.9 trillion cubic feet) in the central region are forming a magnetic pull to global investors hunting for renewable and cheap sources of energy.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud pledged the Sarawak people’s support for the development plan.“Sarawak will become the dynamo of energy for the country and the region.
“This is our contribution towards the continued development of our country.” Taib said the transformation of Bintulu into a liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub with a population of more than 150,000, from a fishing village of about 5,000 people 25 years ago, was testimony to the government’s service to the people.
Household income, Taib said, had increased six-fold in the same time following infrastructure developments such as a new airport, roads and a state-of-the-art LNG port.He said the launch of Score would also set in motion a host of industries.
The launch of Score also saw the signing of 13 memorandums of understanding worth more than RM100 billion.In Sibu, Abdullah urged all Malaysians, irrespective of who they are, to work together to make the nation successful.
“Let us make the country successful (by working hard). I work hard. Nobody can tell me that I don’t work hard because we have to succeed. “I want to do well as your prime minister and I don’t want people to say ’What is this Pak Lah? What did he do? Nothing.’
“I want to work hard and I want to succeed together with you. I want you to work with me. And the future is ours to share. I want this country to be peaceful,” he said at an all community dinner at SMK Sacred Heart.
Abdullah said Sarawak and Sabah had to be given more emphasis so that they would develop at a faster rate than before.
The prime minister said the Sarawak Corridor or Score would transform the state by the year 2030.“I put my faith in the quality of human capital in the state and I am confident that you can be on par, if not better, than the other states in terms of holistic development which would benefit every strata of society,” Abdullah said to a cheering crowd of more than 10,000 at the waterfront here.
“The government is committed to ensuring the success of Score with our partnership with the private sector but this doesn’t mean that ordinary people will be left out. There is room for everyone in this specialised development plan.
”Pointing out that a positive mindset was as important as the necessary human capital, Abdullah said the billions of ringgit in investment in Score must be complemented with commitment and hard work from all concerned.
“What we are launching is a masterplan which is achievable by 2030. We are not starting from zero but from a comfortable platform. As Malaysians, we have the capabilities and what we need to do now is just add value.
“If we are able to add value to our capacity and capabilities, then I am sure that we will be successful,” Abdullah said. Score, with a total investment target of RM334 billion over 23 years, is the last of the government’s regional development corridor initiatives, which kicked off with the Iskandar Development Region in southern Johor.
Fifteen per cent of the overall investment figure is to be pumped in by the federal government, four per cent by the state government, 23 per cent by government-linked companies and the rest by local and foreign private investors.While spelling out the details of the development framework, Abdullah also emphasised the environmental aspects of the vast initiative.
“I directed the formation of a Green Development Framework to ensure that development, particularly of our energy resources, will be conducted in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner.
“We must protect the environment because that is what the people and environment-conscious investors are looking for,” the prime minister said.The other regional development initiatives are the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) and the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC).
Encompassing a whole range of industries, from downstream oil-based production and aquaculture to high-tech ventures such as state-of-the-art aluminium smelting and specialised glass-making, Score is set to blaze a trail in this part of the country.
Score will be managed by the state’s Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda).The Regional Corridor Development Authority Ordinance passed by the Sarawak state legislative assembly in December spells out Recoda’s role and responsibilities in implementing projects and plans under Score.
Recoda’s target by the year 2030 is to ensure the creation of 1.5 million new job opportunities and achieve a gross domestic product per capita growth of 5.5 per cent per annum.
Huge hydroelectric generation prospects and the vast natural stock of coal (estimated at 1.5 billion tonnes) and natural gas (estimated at 40.9 trillion cubic feet) in the central region are forming a magnetic pull to global investors hunting for renewable and cheap sources of energy.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud pledged the Sarawak people’s support for the development plan.“Sarawak will become the dynamo of energy for the country and the region.
“This is our contribution towards the continued development of our country.” Taib said the transformation of Bintulu into a liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub with a population of more than 150,000, from a fishing village of about 5,000 people 25 years ago, was testimony to the government’s service to the people.
Household income, Taib said, had increased six-fold in the same time following infrastructure developments such as a new airport, roads and a state-of-the-art LNG port.He said the launch of Score would also set in motion a host of industries.
The launch of Score also saw the signing of 13 memorandums of understanding worth more than RM100 billion.In Sibu, Abdullah urged all Malaysians, irrespective of who they are, to work together to make the nation successful.
“Let us make the country successful (by working hard). I work hard. Nobody can tell me that I don’t work hard because we have to succeed. “I want to do well as your prime minister and I don’t want people to say ’What is this Pak Lah? What did he do? Nothing.’
“I want to work hard and I want to succeed together with you. I want you to work with me. And the future is ours to share. I want this country to be peaceful,” he said at an all community dinner at SMK Sacred Heart.
Abdullah said Sarawak and Sabah had to be given more emphasis so that they would develop at a faster rate than before.
