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| Awang Tengah (left) chairing a development meeting and briefing by Limbang Division Land and Survey Department. Also seen are Arnie (centre) and Hussaini. |
Echoing the people’s wishes, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment and Bukit Sari assemblyman Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said he had personally strived for many years for the opening hours to be extended from 10pm previously to 12 midnight presently in the interest of the people here.
“Limiting the opening hours by closing CIQs at 6 pm is not going to solve smuggling and other issues,” he said.
Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment (MIETI), said tighter border control with additional manpower and equipment should be the right approach in dealing with smuggling and other criminal activities.
“We are grateful to the leadership and HRH Sultan of Brunei for consenting to the extension of border operation hours as agreed in the meeting between the leaders of both countries, and standardising opening hours to close at 6pm is tantamount to disregarding the needs of the people in this region,” he said here last Saturday.
He was commenting on a proposal by the Home Ministry to study the possibility of standardising closing hours of border exit points, including earlier closing of CIQs as a measure to curb criminal activities such as drug and weapon trafficking.
Deputy Home Minister Masir Kujat was reported saying last week that he would meet with Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to discuss the measure and propose all border entry points to be closed at 6pm.
Earlier, Limbang MP Hasbi Habibolah also disagreed with such move, saying the government should take into account the wishes of the people.
Awang Tengah said although it was only a proposal, it has evoked negative reaction from the people in Limbang, Lawas, Miri, Brunei and Sabah as it would have an impact on the economy, social and political scene.
On the recent investment promotion mission to China, he said prospective investors there were interested and committed to investing in the state due to its climate of political stability and strategic location in the heart of Asean region that is conducive for business.
“We have visited big companies and factories, which among them, has invested in our state up to RM1 billion,” he said.
He said there was big interest in bringing support industries such as glass, aluminium and others to Sarawak, and a major steel production company was interested in investing USD3 billion in manufacturing facility in the state.
He said the state government had invited the prospective investors to visit the state for feasibility studies and site identification.
The minister said the state delegation also impressed on companies in China the opportunities in halal food production in the state.
“The result of our mission was very encouraging and the Chinese appreciate the business-friendly state government which welcomes investors in win-win ventures,” he said.
The minister also mentioned that a major heavy vehicle manufacturing company using German technology was also interested in setting up a plant in the state.
He added that the state government was also interested in establishing close cooperation between the state’s timber industry and major players in the furniture industry in China.
Earlier on, Awang Tengah chaired a development meeting and briefing by Limbang Division Land and Survey Department at Hotel Seri Malaysia which was also attended by Land and Survey superintendent Arnie Abdul Rahman and Lawas district officer Hussaini Hakim.
September 6, 2016, Tuesday
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