‘Renewable energy vital to realise industrialisation target for S’wak’
MIRI: Sarawak needs reliable renewable energy to realise its goal of attaining fully industrialised status.
Acting Head of State Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said without the strength of renewable energy, it would hinder all the efforts towards industrialisation that had been planned by the state government.
“The government departments cannot provide adequate employment opportunities for the people.
“The jobs must be found in industries. In this respect, industries need energy; otherwise factories would close down and there would be no employment for the people – a situation that in the end, would only contribute to the social dislocations in the state,” he said in his official remarks at the ‘New Year Countdown Dinner’ in ParkCity Everly Hotel here on Saturday.
Asfia, who is also State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) Speaker pointed out that with the state being rich with natural resources such as rivers, the potential for the generation and provision of non- polluting renewable energy was there.
“The present people in Sarawak should be able to look forward to a brighter future, but this depends on how they manage the resources and take advantage of the political stability and racial harmony in the state.”
At the same time, Asfia reminded those present of the importance of them safeguarding the existing racial harmony at all costs.
“We cannot have economic development and prosperity without racial harmony and stability in politics. Only with these two could economic development be able to be constructed upon.”
He also assured them that in its effort to unite people from various races, the state government would never suppress the culture of any ethnic group in Sarawak.
“Instead, the state government wants to take the best of each culture and merge them together to become a ‘super culture’.”
On another matter, Asfia said he was impressed by the excellent performance of Assistant Minister for Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, who is firsttime Marudi assemblyman, during the last DUN sitting
“The ministers and assistant ministers can give their answers by reading the notes prepared and written beforehand. However, their capability would be determined on how they react to the supplementary questions.
“In this respect, Dr Penguang knew how and when to hit the notes appropriately in answering the questions posed by the opposition ( during last DUN sitting), even the supplementary questions.”
Asfia attended the countdown dinner with his wife Dato Fatimah Mohd Iskandar. The event also hosted Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting and Miri Mayor Adam Yii.
Later, Asfia presented donations to the children from Hamidah Welfare Complex here and also to a group of children with special needs.