SCCCI calls for new manufacturing industry in Sibu
SIBU: Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) has called for the establishment of a new manufacturing industry here.
According to SCCCI president Dr Hii Sui Cheng, this is crucial in attracing new investments to the town.
“It is crucial to have a new manufacturing industry in Sibu to add to the shipbuilding operations and crude palm oil production.
“To attract new investment, SCCCI recommends the setting up of a free trade zone in Tanjung Manis,” he said during SCCCI’s two-hour dialogue with Minister of International Trade and ECommerce and Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh yesterday.
About 40 members attended the dialogue.
Hii said there is an urgent need to promote the central region of the state as a manufacturing and agricultural centre as well as to encourage overseas investors as joint venture (JV) partners with local entrepreneurs.
“This should lead to the creation of more high-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector.”
Also raised during the dialogue session was the air connectivity here.
“There must be an air service between Sibu and Kota Kinabalu, followed by a direct flight from China ( Foochow Province to
It is crucial to have a new manufacturing industry in Sibu to add to the shipbuilding operations and crude palm oil production. To attract new investment, SCCCI recommends the setting up of a free trade zone in Tanjung Manis. Dr Hii Sui Cheng, SCCCI president
Sibu, or Sibu to Singapore).”
According to Hii, SCCCI had also suggested that the relevant departments and Sibu Municipal Council ( SMC) should develop more tourism infrastructure.
He added that on their part, they had raised the issue of town cleanliness, road networks and road maintenance.
He said the new access road linking Sibu Hospital from the traf fic light junction of Sibu Airport and Tun Ahmad Zaidi Road should be given attention.
The quality of road maintenance in the central business districts ( CDBs) with regard to potholes, parking lots, overgrown weeds, traffic lanes and lines had not been professionally done – thus, giving this town a poor image.
“Town c le an l ine s s h a s deteriorated substantially over the last 10 years.”
The dialogue also touched on the issue of score cards for community leaders.
Hii pointed out that since community leaders including ‘ Kapi tans’ a r e r e c eivi ng monthly allowances, a monthly scorecard system to monitor their performance should be implemented.
“The two important parameters to be included are the number of cases handled per month and number of days the community leader is out of the town in a month.”
Concerning nomination of state awards, he said the past and present contributions from Chinese business community to the economic development of Sibu had been significant.
He said SCCCI, as the largest l o c a l b u s i ne s s ch amb e r representing more than 1,000 business organisations, had proven to be a reliable partner to local counci ls and other government departments, and in terms of payment of council’s assessments, its members’ contributions represented the biggest block.
“Therefore, SCCCI hopes that its views and representations wou l d b e g ive n s e r i ou s consideration. These include our recommendations/submission for annual state awards for some of our members who have made significant contributions.”
Other matters discussed during the meeting were promotion of vocational and technical skillsbased courses and e- commerce plans.