BY TANIA LAM & SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA
KUCHING: Venturing into the hydrogen economy is not a waste of money but instead, it is a source of revenue for Sarawak.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said that the hydrogen economy agenda was Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s initiative to generate Sarawak’s source of money after the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government restricted funding to the state.
“Because they did not give us funding, we had to look into our methanol plant, our hydrogen plant — then by 2023, we can generate a lot of money,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters at the tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony for the development of Bintulu Hydrogen Plant at the Grand Margherita Hotel here today.
According to Dr Sim, the Bintulu Hydrogen Plant will produce better hydrogen energy compared to others in Brunei and Australia.
“Our plant here produces green energy, while the ones in Brunei and Australia are considered brown energy, whereby they use oil and gas to generate hydrogen. Ours is based on water and electricity,” he said.
He said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government was certainly a competent one who had a plan for Sarawak.
He pointed out that Abang Johari had done a lot of revenue reengineering, even just within three years of being chief minister.
“Whereas other parties only have criticisms, but no plans for Sarawak,” said Dr Sim.
