KUCHING: More Sarawakian professionals working outside the country are returning home to contribute their expertise and services to the development of the state.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this is because of the state’s various developments including the construction of a methanol plant prompting engineers to return to the state.
As the state is set to become a semiconductor industry hub, he said a total of 20 Sarawakian engineers specialising in such industry have returned from overseas to realise the state’s effort in designing and manufacturing high-demand microchips.
“Currently, we are short of (chip) designers because we have set up Sarawak Microelectronics Design (SMD) Semiconductor. We need a lot of engineers, and we have recruited 20 (Sarawakians) who are coming from overseas.
“We need another 30 (Sarawakian) engineers for a semiconductor company, X-Fab. These (semiconductor) chips are used in cars and they have to be adjusted because we are not using combustion anymore as fossil fuels will be replaced by fuel cells.
“The chips are also different. In one car, there are 150 chips,” he said.
In other words, he said there is a need for new chips throughout the world and he is proud to note that Sarawak is the first to produce designers for such chip.
Abang Johari cited an article from The Straits Times that recently reported that many Sarawakians who are working in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore have returned to the state due to its surge in entrepreneurial opportunities.
“This is true… with the methanol project in Sarawak, our engineers are coming back. In Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd, there are those who had worked in Kuala Lumpur and came back.”
He said this during the presentation ceremony of Premier of Sarawak’s Industry Excellence Awards (PSIEA) 2023 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Monday evening.
The event saw Sarawak-based metal roofing company IMetal (M) Sdn Bhd presented with the Outstanding Award.
For large domestic company category, the gold awards were awarded to IMetal (M) Sdn Bhd, Asteel Resources Sdn Bhd, Amalgated Plant Engineering Sdn Bhd and Taiyo Yuden (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd while Hexagon Highs Transport Sdn Bhd, KKB Engineering Berhad and X-Fab Sarawak Sdn Bhd won the silver awards.
For medium domestic company category, Senari Synergy Port Sdn Bhd and Taka Cake Supplies Sdn Bhd won the gold awards, while the silver awards were awarded to PPKS Ilmu Sdn Bhd, Tanjung Manis Oil Terminal Management Sdn Bhd, Grand Margherita Hotel, Licentokil (S) Sdn Bhd, Borneo Asphalt Sdn Bhd and Leaves Food Industries Sdn Bhd.
Meanwhile, under the same category, Kenyalang Integrity Services Sdn Bhd, Karuna (Sarawak) Enterprise Sdn Bhd, Gasing Gemilang Sdn Bhd, Wenhong Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd, Old Street Enterprise and Greenleaf Food & Beverages Sdn Bhd won the bronze award.
For the small domestic company category, Sophia Taha Holdings Sdn Bhd and Toclan Agrotech Company received the gold awards while SM Digital Innovation Sdn Bhd, Setara Vista Sdn Bhd and Neuon Ai Sdn Bhd won the silver awards.
The bronze award winners were presented to Flin Ken Group Sdn Bhd, TK Jaya Plantation Sdn Bhd, Klinik Pergigian Bright Smile, Times Square Miri Sdn Bhd and Thian Sheng Automobile and Services Sdn Bhd.
The PSIEA, formerly known as the Chief Minister’s Industry Excellence Awards (CMIEA), is the highest state award adopted from the national-level Industry Excellence Awards.
PSIEA uses the internationally recognised Business Excellence Framework as the benchmark criteria in the evaluation process, in search of world class business excellence.
Jointly organised by SBF and Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC), this year’s PSIEA with the themed ‘Prosperity, Inclusivity, Sustainability: Advancing Sarawak Towards 2030’ saw an encouraging participation from a total of 30 companies which is about 45 per cent increase from the previous event.
