By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Dec 11: Developers and investors tapping into Sarawak’s mining and quarrying sector must not operate merely to extract raw minerals, but must adopt full integration across upstream, midstream, and downstream activities.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan emphasised that key resources in Sarawak such as silica sand, kaolin, gold, antimony, granite, and rare earth elements (REE) will face stricter export controls to promote downstream development.
He noted that Sarawak’s mineral and quarrying industry, once primarily domestic in scope, has become a strategic economic sector under the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 blueprint.
“The State’s rich reserves of minerals and rock resources are essential for construction, manufacturing, smart technology, defence, and clean energy industries.
“These resources must be managed wisely, sustainably, and responsibly. We will not do business as usual. We will tighten requirements for every developer and investor, whether domestic or foreign,” he said when speaking at the launching ceremony of the Green Mining and Quarrying Academy at Hotel Seri Malaysia in Lawas, which was streamed live via Ukas Channel today.
Awang Tengah emphasised that developers and investors must bring in high-technology solutions to ensure that extracted minerals are developed and processed locally, instead of being exported in raw form.
“The aim is to produce high-value products here in Sarawak, similar to our oil and gas sector which has expanded from LNG production to downstream industries like ammonia and methanol exports.This approach will diversify our economy and create more jobs,” he added.
In line with this vision, Awang Tengah said that the Sarawak government will digitalise the mineral and quarrying sector.
The digitalisation initiative aims to streamline licence applications, improve transparency, provide an integrated database of mineral resources and geological mapping, facilitate information sharing with stakeholders and investors, and enhance industry performance monitoring.
Applications for system approval and funding will be submitted under Rolling Plan 2 (2026), with development expected to be completed within two years.
“The primary, midstream, and downstream mineral industries in Sarawak must be integrated to generate significant value for the sector,” he concluded, urging all industry players to embrace the State’s vision for a sustainable and high-value mineral economy.
Lawas MP Dato Henry Sum Agong, Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources (MUDeNR) permanent secretary cum Sarawak Minerals Management Authority secretary Datu Abdyllah Julaihi and Centexs CEO Dato Syeed Mohad Hussein Wan Abdul Rahman were present. — DayakDaily
