By Amanda L
KUCHING, May 13: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong today urged the Sarawak government to abandon any proposed redevelopment involving the Pending Industrial Estate, arguing that relocating long-established industrial operators would disrupt businesses, jobs and supply chains built over decades.
Speaking during the debate on the motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s address at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting today, she understood that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development along with related agencies, had been working on a proposal to redevelop the industrial area and relocate existing operators.
“Nearly 500 industrial operators could be affected by the proposal. The Pending Industrial Estate is a long-established industrial hub built by local businesses and SMEs over decades.
“These businesses employ Sarawakians, support local supply chains and generate tax revenue,” she said.
She also criticized what she described as a lack of transparency surrounding the proposal, saying many business owners had only learned of the possible relocation through rumors and remained uncertain about the government’s intentions.
Yong questioned whether replacement industrial land with adequate infrastructure and logistics connectivity had been identified and who would bear the relocation costs, including dismantling machinery, rebuilding factories and business disruptions.
“Sarawak has vast land. We are not short of space. So why disturb a productive industrial estate that has served Sarawak for decades?” she said.
She argued that if aging infrastructure within the estate was the government’s primary concern, authorities should focus instead on upgrading roads, drainage systems and utilities in the existing industrial area.
The Pending assemblywoman urged the State government to abandon any redevelopment or relocation plans involving the Pending Industrial Estate, saying the issue was ultimately about safeguarding local businesses and protecting jobs. — DayakDaily
