KUCHING: Sarawak’s decision to continue with the conditional movement control order (CMCO) and allow most economic sectors to open and operate will give it a head start in its economic sector compared to other states currently under the imposition of the nationwide movement control order (MCO).
Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OUCCI) president Datuk Mutang Tagal, in stating this, explained that because of certain constraints, it was right and proper for the state government to opt out of the nationwide MCO.
“By doing so, the state government can learn the lessons of the first two MCOs and adopt short, medium and long term strategies to position the state to emerge stronger, resilient and self-sustaining moving forward,” he said when contacted by New Sarawak Tribune today (May 25).
In view of the devastating impacts of Covid-19 and the imposition of previous MCOs on the lives and livelihoods of the people, he said it was learnt that there must be adequate food supply for the people to prevent starvation. The economy must not be allowed to shut down and business must continue to operate to provide employment to the people.
“The state government, therefore, must prioritise food growing and production to cushion against food scarcity in the state, nation and the world.
“The ability to produce its own food will keep food prices down and check inflation. Soft loans, seed capital or grants must be provided by the state government to encourage widespread establishment of these agricultural enterprises,” he said.
Mustang added that Sarawak must also urgently ‘reset’ its industrial policies by ensuring that its natural resources like timber, petroleum and gas were exploited and processed for downstream development, thereby creating value added products and services.
“By doing so, an entire cluster of downstream petrochemical industries will be developed in the state.
“On top of that, the state government must provide cheap hydro power, tax incentives/tax holidays, soft loans and grants.”
The Covid-19 pandemic had seen a flurry of small business owners, especially in the food sector, resort to marketing their products and services online, he said, adding that digital marketing had increased sales and profits, thereby providing the much needed income for the people.
“So the state must encourage and regulate businesses that market their products and services online by giving them incentives.
“Increased business activities among the low income groups will cushion the effects of Covid19 pandemic on their livelihoods.
He added that the CMCO period in Sarawak was a golden opportunity for the state to work on its human resource development and capacity building to achieve its vision of becoming a developed and high income state by 2030.
“Without adequate skilled and trained labour force in the various industries, it will be difficult for the state government to realise its vision by 2030.
“Skilled training centres with state-of-the-art modern facilities should be set up throughout the state for skill training and upgrading,” he stressed.
