LAWAS: The relocation of Indonesia’s capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan will open up vast opportunities for Sarawak in terms of cross-border trade.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this is because the proposed location for the new capital was not far from Lawas or Baram area.
“If we look at Limbang now, there is a lot of cross-border trade going on. Even the Lun Bawangs in Indonesia come to Lawas to purchase construction materials,” he said.
“If we can gain access to the new capital, there would be many more opportunities to explore such as joint cross-border development,” he said when speaking at the Northern Region Development Agency’s dinner and logo launching ceremony at a local hotel here recently.
On the other hand, he did not deny that there would be advantages and disadvantages for the areas near the border.
“But I think if we plan properly, we will definitely gain certain benefits,” he continued.
Awang Tengah, who is also the agency’s chairman, said the state government planned to develop downstream oil and gas industry particularly petrochemical as well as petroleum and gas refining in Lawas district.
He noted that the process of appointing experts to conduct studies on the proposal is currently taking place and the plan had already attracted some investors.
He said, “Studies will also be carried out on the development master plan in Limbang and Lawas, two of Sarawak’s northern most districts, with the objective of boosting the economic development in the areas.”
Also present at the function were Awang Tengah’s wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud, Agriculture Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Limbang MP Hasbi Hasbibollah and Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang.
