UCA Sibu wants S’wak’s central region to have own Sirim office

SIBU: The United Chinese Association (UCA) of Sibu Division is requesting the government to set up a Sirim office for the central region of Sarawak.

In this regard, UCA Sibu head Ngieng Ping Sing is calling upon the federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation ( Mosti) for assistance to realise this proposal.

According to him, having this Sirim office could establish an environment that is more conducive to the business community in the central region, which generally covers Sibu, Sarikei, Kapit, Kanowit and Mukah.

Moreover, this could also help reduce the operation costs, said Ngieng in a statement recently.

It is learnt that the central region of Sarawak records a population of 260,000.

“It’s difficult for businessmen in the central region to register for or renew their Sirim certificates.

“For them, the nearest Sirim office is in Kuching,” he said.

On another matter, Ngieng said the UCA had requested Mosti to beef up its supervision and enforcement over the usage of pesticides and treatment of wastewater at oil palm plantations and refineries across Sarawak.

In this respect, he said the association had submitted a memorandum of understanding to Minister Science, Technology and Innovation Yeo Bee Yin.

“Vast areas in Sarawak have been turned into oi l palm plantations, with the palm oil refineries located within these vicinities.

“In this regard, we call upon Mosti to monitor regularly the usage of pesticides and also the treatment of wastewater from the plantations,” he said.

On the renewable energy project, Ngieng claimed that oil palm waste materials such as biomass palm residues, empty fruit bunches ( EFBs) and mesocarp fibres ( MF) are often sent to the incinerators – a process that results in air pollution.

According to him, such waste could be reused, or utilised in renewable energy projects in Sarawak.

“If these biomass palm residues, EFBs and MFs are left in the open field, they would emit greenhouses gases such as carbon dioxide and methane – possibly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer, while the seepage could pollute the river system.

“We strongly call upon the government to initiate and lead the move to eliminate these unhealthy industrial practices, and also to demand the plantation owners to find ways in converting such waste into clean, ‘ green’ and sustainable energy,” Ngieng suggested.

It’s difficult for businessmen in the central region to register for or renew their Sirim certificates. For them, the nearest Sirim office is in Kuching. Ngieng Ping Sing, UCA Sibu head