SARAWAK’S mining sector is expected to attract RM8.22 billion in investments and generate around 5,700 job opportunities.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the state government is in discussions with two international companies to establish state-of-the-art solar glass and cement manufacturing plants.
“These projects are expected to attract RM8.22 billion in investments and create approximately 5,700 direct and indirect job opportunities,” he said in his ministerial winding up speech today.
He reaffirmed that the Sarawak government is prioritising the mining sector as a core driver for economic transformation by 2030, including both upstream and downstream industries.
Awang Tengah, who is Natural Resources and Urban Development Second Minister, added that the ministry, in collaboration with the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS), has identified 3,882 job opportunities in the upstream mining sector for the period 2025 to 2030.
“Of these, 1,386 positions are classified as critical. To address this need, the government will provide the necessary training to ensure a skilled workforce is available to support the industry,” he added.
On scheduled waste management set to commence in 2025, he said the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) is drafting regulations to enforce new provisions.
He said NREB had conducted Post-Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Inspections between January and October this year for 841 out of 1,207 projects across Sarawak.
“These inspections uncovered 79 cases of non-compliance with EIA terms and conditions, with corrective actions taken for 73 cases,” he said.
He had previously said the implementation of scheduled waste disposal is on track to be finalised by January 1, 2025.
As part of this process, the Department of Environment Malaysia (DoE) will transfer regulatory authority for managing scheduled wastes to NREB.
He said this will grant Sarawak full authority over natural resources, environmental management, and pollution control, enabling the state to establish its own environmental quality goals to protect flora, fauna, and human health for beneficial uses.
