By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 9: The Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) has been proposed to evolve into a strategic corporate body with autonomy to manage waste, generate its own income, and operate as a self-sustaining entity.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the move would empower NREB to manage its own staff service scheme and finances, enabling it to adopt a management style akin to the private sector.
“In other words, authority will be given to NREB, allowing it the autonomy to manage its responsibilities according to what we refer to as private sector-oriented management.
“Secondly, you will generate your own income, and if you succeed and have sufficient revenue, you can give back to your shareholders. At the same time, your service scheme will not be tied to the public service but will instead follow your own system,” he said this when speaking at the NREB Excellence and Service Awards Night held at a hotel here on Wednesday (Oct 8).
As part of efforts to enable NREB to achieve self-sustainability, Abang Johari, who also serves as NREB chairman, suggested that the Board focus its economic resources on the circular economy by turning waste into valuable materials and products for commercial use.
“This includes waste storage based on a circular economy, where waste becomes a source of income. The first step is to develop an incinerator as your initial capital investment, and the waste processed through the incinerator can be separated and turned into raw materials to produce other products,” he explained.
On the government’s part, Abang Johari assured that Sarawak will continue to update its existing laws to empower NREB to manage waste effectively, following the federal government’s decision to grant Sarawak authority over its own solid waste management.
“That is why, in the upcoming Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, I will be tabling new legislation related to mandatory waste collection. If we are able to collect a sufficient amount of waste, you can create new products,” he added.
During the event, the Premier also presented awards to 32 officers who received the NREB Service Medal for over 20 years of dedicated service and 18 officers who received the Excellent Service Award (APC) for outstanding performance in 2024.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Administration) Datu Buckland Bangik representing the Sarawak Secretary, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Sarawak Financial Secretary Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datu Abang Ahmad Abang Morni, and Sarawak Controller of Environmental Quality Datu Jack Liam. — DayakDaily
