By Chris Bishop
KOTA SAMARAHAN, Nov 3: A Shell Desk will be set up under the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to expedite the work permit application process for Shell Malaysia’s expatriates in the state.
This is was disclosed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at a press conference after he attended the “Meet the People Session, Samarahan Division” event at Kota Samarahan Civic Centre here today.
“What we do is we will establish a Shell Desk, just to accommodate their (Shell’s employees) immigration process,” said Abang Johari.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak government is doing so as Shell Malaysia will be moving its upstream activities headquarters to Miri.
“They are moving to Miri, their main office. In another words, their staff from KL (Kuala Lumpur) will come over to Miri. Their staff in KK (Kota Kinabalu), Sabah will also be in Miri.
“It (Miri) will become their regional operation (centre),” said Abang Johari.
He revealed Shell Malaysia’s top management did not disclose the reasons for the company’s decision to move its upstream activities HQ to Miri but one thing he was certain was that the decision was made due to the stability of Sarawak’s political situation.
“The only thing is work permit because all their staff are foreign expatriates. They are non-Sarawakians. Their existing staff, roughly (number) about 2,000,” said Abang Johari.
Apart from Shell Malaysia, Abang Johari said Japanese companies are also willing to invest in Sarawak because of political stability and unity.
“Our government is good. The simple answer is our government is good, so they come. There is stability and unity. We just have to preserve what we have,” he opined. — DayakDaily
