TANJUNG MANIS: The rapid development of Tanjung Manis district today began from the effort and sincerity of the Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud who was aware of its potentiality as an economic growth centre in Central Region.
Pointing out this, Assistant Minister for Workforce Development and Training, Datu Len Talif Salleh said Tanjung Manis has been identified as Growth Node in West of Sarawak’s Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
“Whereas in upper Sg. Rajang, Tunoh has been identified as a Growth Node for the interior area. In the context of second wave of development, Tun has targeted Sarawak as a most progressive state by the year 2030.”
To meet this development, Tun, then as the Chief Minister had mobilised effort to develop the coastal area of Sarawak by implementing infrastructure such as roads and followed by the development of Pan Borneo Highway now under implementation,” he said when addressing at the earth-breaking ceremony for industrial park, Kuala Rejang Industrial Synergy Sdn Bhd (KRIS) and construction of bulking complex and jetty, Ascent Industrial Complex Sdn Bhd (AIC) in Tanjung Manis yesterday.
Taib was present to officiate at the earth-breaking ceremony. Among those present was General-Consul of Republic of Indonesia, Drs. Jahar Gitam.
Len Talif who is also the assistant minister of environment said a new history has been carved in the economic development with the launching of these projects which was a milestone in the economic development of Kuala Rajang.
He said the initial plan for Tanjung Manis was to develop the wood-based industry but in the review development study of Tanjung Manis in the late 1990’s, the government had expanded the economic sector to the shipbuilding, inland fishing, oil and gas, aquaculture and processing of halal food industries, among others.
With solid support from Taib, he said KRIS has been allocated an area of 286 hectares to be developed as an industrial park, out of which 28 hectares has been distributed to AIC.
He said KRIS which was a 100 per cent local Bumiputera (Kuala Rejang) company has allocated 30 per cent share to Kuala Rajang Trustee Board which was set up in 1995 covering areas of Kpg Selalang, Tg Manis, Paloh and Kpg Sebakau in Pulau Bruit.
As such, Len Talif as the chairman of Kuala Rajang Trustee Board and all the residents in the area expressed gratitude to KRIS and Taib who opened up opportunities for the residents in the area to play their role in the local economic development through equity holding, planning and implementation.
“In actual fact, we do not have the ability as an individual to invest in such an industry which involves capital of hundreds millions of ringgit. But by the involvement of the locals as a group, such a wish has been achieved.
“AIC is a company from a neighbouring country who has agreed to invest in the development of the raw palm oil processing factory in a bigger scale for phase 1 which incurred RM150 million,” he stated further.
