Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib bin Mahmud's speech when winding up the debate in the Sarawak State Legislative on Nov 28, 2012)
Sarawak as Energy Producer
Tuan Speaker, we know Sarawak is a major energy producer. It is probably not
on par with the big world producer, but certainly within the context of our population and
our future growth. We have benefited from the development of oil and gas and many
Sarawakians have developed world-class careers as a result. Entire towns like Miri and
Bintulu, in particular, have sprung up because of the oil and gas industry.
It is very clear in the mind of the State economic planners that the energy sector
is a sector that we must strengthen and develop further. Sarawak can become a much
bigger economy, with the availability of energy resources especially if the industrial
sector can be developed more ambitiously. We until now have petroleum and natural
gas. And now, we are going into coal-fired plants and hydro-electric power dams. We
shall also explore biofuels and solar energy in the future, once we are sure of its
economic viability.
Building a Manufacturing Industrial Base
Instead of just exporting our resources abroad, however, we are drawing the
buyers of our resources to do their operations in Sarawak so that more jobs can be
created for Sarawakians in their own country. By this incremental step, we wish to create
a significant manufacturing and industrial base in Sarawak that can generate even more
good jobs and business opportunities to our people in the immediate years ahead.
Attracting investments and investors into Sarawak and creating jobs and
business opportunities are an important step in our development strategy. It is the
inducement of investment and the corresponding build up of talents that we are going to
accelerate the development of Sarawak and equip her to compete effectively with the
rest of the world. We shall build this critical mass on the back of a competitively-priced
energy that is determined predominantly by hydro-electricity power in the energy mix.
Public Discomfort with Big Strategic Move
Tuan Speaker, it is quite understandable that any new idea and strategy is bound
to create anxiety just because it is less familiar and less known. Some people may even
feel uncomfortable with the big strategic moves like building series of dams. It is difficult
to develop Sarawak now with small, small projects and transform areas that are remote
like Ulu Baram, Ulu Kapit. Only big projects can bring about big changes with big
impacts, and although rousing enormous challenges and sometimes a feeling of
uncertainty. At times of impending big changes, many Sarawakians may feel nostalgic
about our tranquil past. But we must march forward to bring changes that benefit our
children and grandchildren. If we don‘t work to build the foundation for the future
generations, then they must spend a greater part of their lives doing what we should be
now doing. I hope that we are not too late.
I am proud that we have been able to produce Sarawakians who are world-class
in their fields of expertise and who rightly are making their contributions in other parts of
the world while we are unable to offer opportunities to develop their talents with
appropriate jobs. They deserve the better reward of very high global salaries.
We have many reasons to be proud of Sarawak and what Sarawak has to offer
to its people to choose to live there. There is a lot of work for all of us to do to develop
Sarawak, to transform Sarawak into a society which can offer prosperity and develop the
talents of our children and grandchildren.
Proposal Not to Develop Out Energy Resources
Tuan Speaker, the call that we don‘t need any more energy in Sarawak is not
really in the interest of our future. This does not take into consideration the fact that the
natural growth of our population estimated to be of four million people by 2030. Purely
relying on the export of palm oil alone will not be able to allow us to maintain the
standard of living of our people at the current level. It will be a short sighted to oppose to
the construction of dams in Sarawak and to listen to outsiders who is really intention
towards our continued development is suspect at best.
Barisan Nasional‘s plan is always to push for Sarawak to continue to grow. The
most assured way to growth is through investments in energy-intensive industries. To
achieve this, we will intensify our efforts to develop our energy resources, especially the
20,000 megawatts of potential hydro-power that we have. With this growth plan, Barisan
Nasional is, in fact, trying to ensure that the people of Sarawak will be able to enjoy a
higher income envisaged our vision 2020.
Because of Sarawak‘s determination to grow, when the First Malaysia Plan was
tabled in this august House in 1965, the late Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui and Datuk Amar
Stephen Yong supported the plan hold heartedly although at that time they were leaders
of opposition SUPP. This subsequently made it easier for SUPP to form coalition
government in 1970 with members of the Alliance and create the beginning of Sarawak
that is more stable and has given progress for us all for the last 40 years.
Wind and Solar Power Alternatives
Tuan Speaker, I am not certain what the DAP and PKR are proposing exactly.
But certainly, they owe it to the people that they should share and support the
development drive for the good of our next generation. Let me explain about other
alternative energy. The cost of construction, modern windmills is higher than hydro
especially when they are planned with a view to give massive energy to mobilize our
industries. There are not many places in Sarawak where there is constant wind blow to
ensure adequate generation of electricity to justify investment into a wind turbine. Solar
pilot projects have been in the last few years installed in selected areas in the rural area,
but so far, many of them are not functioning at full capacity because the sky in Sarawak
is overcast most of the time throughout the year.
Amicable Solutions
Tuan Speaker, implementing big development projects have their difficulties,
many of which are related to peoples understanding. The Government works closely
with the people to try to solve issues in an amicable manner. The Government welcomes
ideas of how to implement big projects better, as well as actual support in terms of
action on the ground in order to speed up the completion of projects. This is what
building dams will entail.
Economic Sabotage
Tuan Speaker, increasingly, we notice that negative actions are being organized
in Sarawak in order to make our position to become one of global attention. A handful of
local organizers seem to land this opposition to get funding from foreigners. Although in
a democracy we are free to accent our wishes I do not condemn systematic campaign
deliberately to discredit individuals and even legitimate government in a wave of lies and
half-truths wrapped around ignorance twisted and logic. Such systematic campaigns
which try to prevent a small developing economy like ours from growing tantamount to
economic sabotage. Patriotic people will find this unacceptable and would even fight
against it.
Tuan Speaker, allow me to make my concluding remarks now. I wish to reiterate
the position of Barisan Nasional that our economic strategy is to have sustainable
growth not economic technician. We shall constantly explore all avenues for our
economy to grow. We have developed with oil and gas, timber and palm oil. Now, our
development strategy is to develope our energy resources and promote energy-intensive
industries. This is because an opportunity has now opened up in the current world
market configuration which allows us to build a niche as part of the global supply chain.
This is also a rare opportunity for us to create good-paying jobs in Sarawak and to
stimulate the business and investment environment in the State.
Opposition to Dams
Tuan Speaker, an opposition to a dam does not mean that the dam should not
be built at all. This is being acknowledged by International Rivers, an international NGO
which apparently has even spread its tentacles to Sarawak. Their biggest requirement is
that the information pertaining to the project should be verified by so called independent
experts. Basically, they want to enforce transparency of the process by which the project
is being carried out. We have no quarrel with that. But, we have quarrel with such basic
mistrust of established government processes developed over the years by people with
unimpeachable integrity in the civil service... (Interruption)
Tuan Speaker: Yang Amat Berhormat, are you taking point of clarification from Kota
Sentosa?
Ketua Menteri (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): Okay. I hope it is a
sensible one.
Y.B. Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Thank you, Tuan Speaker. Thank you, Honourable
Minister. Yang Amat Berhormat Chief Minister, one question because we are going
towards the conclusion, concluding remarks. I post the question on the contribution
towards agencies approved by government which for next year is RM1.8 billion and
according to a written report, a written reply to my question before, companies,
organisations approved by your good self but your Second Finance Minister could not
answer me on the recipients of these amounts. So, may you, Yang Amat Berhormat
Chief Minister, can you enlighten us the list of the recipients of this RM1.8 billion
contribution towards agencies approved by government. Who are they? And all these
past years, who are the ones who have received these funds?
Tuan Speaker: Okay.
Menteri Kewangan II dan Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan Pembangunan Komuniti
(Y.B. Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh): I have answered the question.
Ketua Menteri (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): I am not sure which
one, RM1.8 billion. Is it federal projects or state projects?
Y.B. Encik Chong Chieng Jen: It is under the item, under the Development
Expenditure of the budget, of the state budget. Under the item Development Budget,
Development Expenditure Public Finance, there is an item Contribution Towards
Agencies Approved by Government. And I have been asking who are these agencies
approved by the government. All these while the Second Finance Minister...
(Interruption)
Tuan Speaker: Okay, alright, ok.
Y.B Encik Chong Chieng Jen: The Second Finance Minister gives me a very big
answer and could not produce the recipients... (Interruption)
Tuan Speaker: Okay, clarification ... (Interruption)
Ketua Menteri (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): No problem, no
problem, Tuan Speaker. This is the normal practice. We have approved many budget
even before Yang Berhormat were elected by the same methods. All these are
provisions of money. Who is going to get it, depends on their programme, on the
submission to the Finance Department, to the Federal Government, to the State
Government, as for what projects. And then, that is the only time you can question
because it is not determined yet. We are approving a project. We are approving a
budget, not project.
Tuan Speker: No, no, no. It has been answered. Okay. Now ... (Interruption) (Inaudible)
Ketua Menteri (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): You better, Tuan
Speaker, with due respect, the Honourable Member should not dwell on generalities.
Why doesn‘t he go through all the government records and the details on how the
projects are allocated, otherwise you are shooting in the dark. No. My advice to you is to
go and ask specific questions about what projects it goes to. Otherwise, I will say that
you are dwelling on generalities because of ignorance, I‘m sorry to say.
Menteri Kewangan II dan Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan Pembangunan Komuniti
(Y.B Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh): Tuan Speaker... (Interruption)
Ketua Menteri (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): Okay, Tuan Speaker,
I will not sit down for this Honourable Member... (Interruption)
Tuan Speaker: Okay.
Ketua Menteri (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): Because so far he
has not given me an equal standard of debate that I‘m giving to
him...(Interruption)(Inaudible) Not giving an answer. No, that doesn‘t matter. This
including probably out of politeness to show how much ignorance there is in the
preparation of their questions and your debate.
Tuan Speaker: Honourable Member for Kota Sentosa ... (Inaudible) Okay. Yang Amat
Berhormat, please proceed.
Ketua Menteri (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): Tuan Speaker, I won‘t
give way with nonsense now. But the fact is, that the dams are necessary are
necessarily for survival of our modern economy, wherever there are rivers available.
According to the International Commission on Large Dams, there exist in the world as
many as 48,000 dams which are higher than 15 metres. Any artificial structure across a
waterway is called a dam including a barrage.
Hydro dams have the advantage as a cheaper source of energy, as the costs of
the operation is low compared to other source of producing electricity. Dams serve
multiple purposes, including flood control, water irrigation, water supply and shipping
navigation. Most developed countries of the world have pumps. They are more benefit
from dams which they did not despair in the form of opening up of tourists destinations.
On top of this, the development of tourism can be further top of at the later part of
SCORE programme in the future.
About 1,600 dams are being built around the world today, mostly in China,
Turkey, Iran and Japan. Developed countries had daily phase of development which
involved the building of quite a lot of dams.
Dams in SCORE
Tuan Speaker, for SCORE, we have already established a plan to develop
hydroelectric power projects and we shall carry them out in order to make SCORE a
success. We will build the projects whenever there is sufficient market demand. This
energy development road map is important because it provides Sarawak with a certainty
in our future economic direction. We need this certainty to plan ahead our required
infrastructure. We need this certainty in order to enable business people to plan ahead
their investments. We need this certainty in order to enable our young people to decide
their future careers in Sarawak. Sarawak… (Interruption)
Tuan Speaker: No, no, no, please proceed.
Ketua Menteri (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): Okay, I give you the
chance.
Tuan Speaker: You are making what? Clarification or what?
Y.B. Encik Wong King Wei: Clarification. Yang Amat Berhormat has gives way. Yang
Amat Berhormat, I understand that state government has put the state towards this
heavy industrial biased development and the SCORE has been in the progress. For the
economy purpose, you said this is a must for Sarawak but this is treat mental to the
environment. Why not tourism? Why not tourism? I want to know the answer.
Ketua Menteri (Y.A.B. Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud): I don‘t need to reply
that question. It is just obviously a gap in a perception how to plan an economy the
Honourable‘s answer. Alright. No more. I don‘t want to give way.
Sarawak Social Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) Process
To demonstrate our seriousness in ensuring that our hydro dam projects are
done properly, we have established our Sarawak SEIA Process which is an adaption of
the key elements of international guidelines to Sarawak conditions.
No way do the international guidelines ever try to over-ride the sovereignty of any
nation state. This is regarded as interference in domestic affairs. A fundamental
component of good relationship among nations. The laws and regulations of a nation
state is always the key to preserve order and partnership in world trade. Compensations
therefore, are made not according to a world standard which is impossible to implement
with because of the differences in degree of prosperity what can be afforded from nation
to nation. Therefore, to be decided on what we can afford.
One of the key elements of the international guidance as per the UN Declaration
of The Rights of Indigenous Peoples is the rights of the indigenous people to land and
land-based activities. This is respected and reflected in the action we take in the
resettlement exercise. In the case of the Murum resettlement, land is provided for every
household. Houses and roads are built for them so that they and their children and their
grandchildren can benefit from this development. Generally speaking, people resettled
will normally end up better than before they were resettled. In our system of
implementation and that because we can afford better now than in the days for Batang
Ai.
The key element of the Equator‘s Principles is that there is a process of
consultation with the directly affected communities. In the case of Murum, we have held
regular consultations with the directly affected communities. Some NGOs may, however,
refused to be full recognition of this. In other words the process of resettlement in
Sarawak is probably among the best what we can find in the whole region.
Our Future
Tuan Speaker, it is the resolve of the majority of our people that we should
continue to develop Sarawak through SCORE. As we develop our industries, we shall
also transform our rural communities in the interior.
I call upon all our Sarawakians to work together to build and push our State to
the next step of economic development with agriculture and manufacturing industries
powered by the abundance of stable-priced energy, and serviced by a vibrant services
sector, mostly undertaken by the private sector.
Sarawakians can define our own standards and work hard together to gain our
niche in the world economy and uplift our future generations through better quality of
jobs which is the results of our continues development efforts.
