By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 9: All 116 trainees under Sarawak Petchem’s one-year Technician Training Programme (TTP) are Sarawakians who will graduate to become operators in Sarawak’s first mega methanol plant.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the trainees, who consist of 74 in the first batch and 42 in the second batch, are mostly fresh Technical Diploma holders comprising 80 per cent of the B40 group from throughout Sarawak.
In other words, the methanol project has to-date successfully created more than 100 job opportunities for young graduates in the B40 group, he stressed.
“With state of the art and high technology, the plant will require competent personnel, who are mostly engineers, technicians, operators and specialists to operate it. This will provide employment opportunities for our potential job seekers and transfer of technology.
“The (methanol) project will generate job opportunities, both during the construction of the mega project which is anticipated to have a total workforce that could reach 4,500 workers and about 300 staff during the operation of the plant.
“Not to mention the spinoff from this plant operation for other opportunities including its services and maintenance,” he said during a site visit to the Sarawak Methanol Project in Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu here today.
While the project attracts more foreign investment, Abang Johari said, job opportunities for the young would subsequently increase.
Without revealing the details, he said a huge foreign company is soon coming to Sarawak to invest in the methanol project but related to medical equipment.
“I will announce it later. But one thing (I would like to point out), these foreign investors are very confident in Sarawak because Sarawak can deliver.
“Number two, Sarawakians are friendly people. And third, the important thing is political stability. We have leaders who work in a team. We must also have a certain vision for the future.
“That’s why by 2030, Sarawak will, if it is God’s will, be transformed into a developed State with high income,” he added. — DayakDaily
