By Shikin Louis
BINTULU, Nov 10: Sarawak is pursuing four key initiatives to strengthen Bintulu’s position as an emerging low-carbon industrial hub, following its recognition by the World Economic Forum (WEF), says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the initiatives comprise smart manufacturing operations, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), industrial symbiosis and talent development to support the transition towards a more sustainable industrial economy.
“These are the four initiatives for us to realise and fulfil the world’s recognition of Bintulu as a new emerging cluster,” he said when speaking at the Bintulu Sustainability Awards here, last night.
Abang Johari said the recognition of Bintulu as the world’s 39th emerging low-carbon industrial cluster reflected Sarawak’s efforts to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.
He said smart manufacturing would involve equipping factories with intelligent management systems that take environmental considerations into account while improving industrial productivity through digital technology.
He cited the Samalaju Industrial Park, where companies were already adopting smart management approaches, as part of this initiative.
The second initiative is to establish Sarawak as a CCUS hub, leveraging its geological formations and offshore areas in Bintulu to store captured carbon.
He said Sarawak’s peatlands, particularly in the Rajang Delta and areas extending towards Kuching, also had the potential to retain carbon.
The third initiative, industrial symbiosis, would encourage businesses to share resources and utilise one another’s by-products, reducing waste while improving resource efficiency.
Abang Johari said this was in line with Sarawak’s circular economy approach, encapsulated in the principle of “don’t waste the waste, monetise the waste”.
Using the palm oil industry as an example, he said waste from palm oil production could be converted into fertiliser, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and animal feed.
Livestock waste could also be collected and processed to produce methane, which contains hydrogen, while other waste streams could be converted into useful products.
“This is how everything goes around. That is the circular economy, and it will further strengthen our economy,” he said.
The fourth initiative is talent development, which he described as essential to ensuring Bintulu has the skilled workforce needed to manage emerging industries and new technologies.
He said Sarawak’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), which provides tuition-free education to eligible Sarawakians at State-owned universities, was part of the effort to develop the human capital needed for the new economy.
On November 3, Abang Johari had agreed in principle to consider extending FTES coverage to Sarawakian students at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) campuses in Sarawak, following an appeal by Unimas vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit.
However, he said then that no decision could be made while the Sarawak government was operating in a caretaker capacity, and that the proposal could be considered once it regained its mandate.
In his speech last night, Abang Johari reiterated that the request involving UPM students would be considered, including those studying at UPM Bintulu.
He said developing local talent was crucial as industries increasingly adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor technology.
He also highlighted Sarawak’s progress in semiconductor chip development, noting that a locally designed gallium nitride chip known as Ketek.gallium was already being used internationally.
Abang Johari said the four initiatives formed part of Sarawak’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which places environmental sustainability alongside economic prosperity and social inclusivity as its three key pillars.
He said Sarawak’s location on Borneo, the world’s third-largest island and home to one of the world’s oldest rainforests, made protecting its natural environment an important responsibility.
He added that the State had taken steps to reduce carbon emissions and move away from fossil fuels, including developing hydrogen as an alternative energy source.
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s sustainability initiatives had attracted interest from other states and international representatives seeking to learn from its experience.
He also said the Asian Development Bank was looking at opportunities to provide green financing for projects in Sarawak, including industrial development in Bintulu.
“We want Sarawak to become the star of Asean in sustainability,” he said.
Also present were Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture and Bintulu MP Dato Seri Tiong King Sing; Sarawak Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; Minister in the Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; and Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) general manager Datu Muhamad Yakup Kari. — DayakDaily
