Sarawak contractors want O&G jobs
KUCHING: The Sarawak Petroleum Contractors Association (SPCA) has once again urged the national oil company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) to give more oil and gas jobs to contractors in Sarawak.
Its president Datuk Rahman Lariwoo said most of its members who are experienced in the oil and gas industry have the skills and abilities to do the jobs.
“Sarawakian contractors are qualified and capable just like the other contractors in others states.
“Therefore, we hope that Petronas would give us many jobs or possibly 100 percent to Sarawak companies in the oil and gas sectors,” he said in a press conference after paying a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia on Monday (Sept 14).
He said the next step was to meet the higher ups in Petronas to discuss the matter further.
“So, we want to meet the Petronas big boss to give us more opportunity to help our members. We will invite them during the launch of the new association before this November,” he said.
He said among the matters that will brought up to Petronas would be mainly to request for more jobs to be given to Sarawakians.
“Our purpose is we are only asking for our rights in the Sarawak waters. This is not for me but for our members,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, SPCA vice president I Ir. Jamel Ibrahim said it is hoped that Petronas will not give most of the jobs to others from Malaya.
He said he believed Sarawakian contractors are capable enough and the association is looking forward to work with Petronas on the matter.
“We have spoken to the chief minister. He gave a very positive response to what we want to do as an association, which is trying to help build the local capability, especially the smaller contractors who at this very moment feed on bigger contractors.
“And our demand is for production sharing contractors to actually give certain portions of the jobs directly to local businessmen so that we can build our own Sarawak oil and gas businesses,” he said, adding that Sarawak is the biggest contributor of oil and gas in Malaysia.
He said when the state government is making efforts to help Sarawakian contractors, what needs to be done is to position them to ensure they are prepared and able to take up the jobs.
“So, what we are trying to do is to build up the industry so that we are on par with anybody else in the world. That is our aspiration.”
The registration of SPCA was recently approved by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Aug 19.
