By William Isau
SIBU, March 19: More industrial parks should be set up for this town to attract and retain market talent that would ultimately prevent brain drain.
Speaking at the opening of Sibu Local Industry Forum 2022, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting emphasised that setting up industrial parks will create new jobs and more opportunities for youths.
“This will help to stop them from migrating elsewhere in search of a job.
“I have spoken to Dr Annuar Rapaee (Deputy Minister of Education and Innovation) that Sibu needs to designate two relatively large areas in Teku and Salim to open up industrial factories,” he said.
Ting added that he had also highlighted to the Sarawak government that it was not viable to open up land, build the infrastructure and sell to youths as they could not afford it in one payment for the purpose of opening up a factory.
“Young people will be able to afford this land priced at between RM300,000 to RM400,000 per acre. If it is five acres, then it will cost about RM1.5 million,” he explained.
A better option, he said, was to let young entrepreneurs buy the land and be allowed to pay them in 10 years’ installments.
Ting also urged the private sector to set up industries that will create ample job opportunities for the youths.
“Eight to nine years ago, political leaders said young people here do not want to come back (after completing their study elsewhere). After a year of being chairman of SMC, I found that this is not true as there are still a lot of young people in the town,” he said.
As for youths who aspire to set up business, he advised them not to have the negative thinking that other places are better than Sibu for their business.
“You need to have positive thinking and slowly you will be able to develop your products. Young people know the markets better. So use your creativity to set up what you have planned to do,” he advised.— DayakDaily
