TATAU: The people in the district of Tatau will benefit from the economic spillover through the implementation of development projects in Bintulu.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Bintulu will be facing a second wave of development as the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government plans to develop the downstream oil and gas industry in Tanjung Kidurong.
“Presently a new methanol plant belonging to the state is being built in Tanjung Kidurong and will be followed by a second plant after this.
“In addition, Petronas and Shell will also set up a sour gas processing plant at Tanjung Kidurong. Korea and Japan are committed to building a plant to produce hydrogen gas and will be repurchased by those countries.
“I am confident that if all these projects have been implemented, the people in Tatau will also benefit from the spillover effects of these projects,” Abang Johari said in his text of speech read out by Kakus assemblyman Datuk John Sikie Tayai during the Sarawakku Sayang Jaga Sarawak, Intu Sarawak’ programme at the Tatau Sports Hall today (Nov18).
He said the GPS government has the ability to lift the state’s economy through industrial projects as can be seen in Samalaju and Tanjung Kidurong.
On another note, he said there is still a lot to be done to provide comfort to the people, especially those living outside the city.
“It is not that there is no electricity supply, water supply, roads, and Internet, but it is not enough.
“In the past five years, a lot of allocations have been spent to provide water supply and electricity supply and the GPS government is able to provide the necessary funds because the state’s revenue has already increased from the collection of the state sales tax (SST) on petroleum products.
“Usually, Sarawak’s revenue is around RM5 to RM6 billion, and this year the state’s revenue has reached about RM10 billion,” he said.
Abang Johari added that Sarawak also has an alternative source of funds from the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS) to speed up the development of infrastructure throughout the state.
