KUCHING: Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan has brought up the need for Sarawak to obtain funding from the federal government to support mapping works in the 12th Malaysia Plan which will facilitate mineral and mining management.
The deputy chief minister said that this would enhance the effectiveness and enforcement mining activities in the state.
There should also be consideration for incentives to be given to the industry players, he said.
“Incentives to the industry’s players should be given consideration for mining development at the midstream and downstream levels. This will encourage investment and strive to maximise the state’s revenue collection,” he said.
He said this when representing Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg during the virtual inaugural National Mineral Council meeting, which was chaired by International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Sarawak has its own policy and procedure on mining and mineral through the Minerals Ordinance 2004 and Minerals Regulations 2012, Awang Tengah pointed out.
“These are for controlling the effectiveness and enforcement of mining activities. They are also for the enforcement of a more comprehensive standard operating procedure to handle matters related to the selling as well as export of rock and mineral materials from the state,” he said.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Urban Development, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh; permanent secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources Datuk Zaidi Mahdi and director of Sarawak Land and Survey Department Abdullah Julaihi.
