BY SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA & MARGARET RINGGIT
MIRI: Sarawak is fortunate to have vast resources powering its transition into green economy.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg also said Miri was fortunate because of the resources that the city had.
With the state’s own Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros), he pointed out that Petros was working together with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and Shell.
“Shell has closed its office in Putrajaya and it is coming back to Miri. You can just imagine the spillover and multiplier effect when over 2,000 of its staff come to Miri.
“Nippon Oil from Japan will also be setting up office in Miri,” he said.
Abang Johari said this when officiating at the opening of Riam Hill International Secondary School on Tuesday (Nov 8).
He stated that Sarawak must have the human capital to match with the new economy. “Riam Hill International Secondary School will be one of the platforms to contribute to talent development.”
On the school chief executive office Dr Pauline Ho’s request for funding to establish the school’s campus in Permyjaya, he said the state government would give matching grants.
“We will give the funding because to me, what’s important is to develop our talent as we are now in transition in the world economy due to climate change.”
At the same time, Abang Johari called for Sarawakian students to study hard and take up university courses relating to material science and biochemistry.
He said Sarawak would need a lot of students who excelled in the subject matter as “it is the future.”
“For instance, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) is working with Japan to produce biofuel from algae and this will become what we call sustainable aviation fuel for aircraft. We can cultivate algae, but we need biologists and biochemists to study this.
“Sustainable aviation fuel, which is a green energy needed by the world, if we can produce it then we will be a producer for the world.
“I can see that the future is bright for us,” Abang Johari added.
