BINTULU: The Sarawak Government will accelerate the development of Samalaju town through the provision of various basic and social facilities to support the rapid growth of the Samalaju industrial area which is now emerging as an international-class industrial hub.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the development includes the provision of residential, educational, health, sports and recreational facilities as well as more comprehensive utilities to meet the needs of the residents and workforce in the area.

According to him, the government is also increasing the electricity supply capacity and implementing the construction of a new water treatment plant with a capacity of 200 million litres per day (MLD) as part of efforts to strengthen infrastructure in Samalaju.

"We also plan to develop Samalaju town. It involves residential, educational, sports and recreational facilities, besides we have requested the Federal Government to give priority to the construction of a hospital in Samalaju," he said.

He said this when speaking at the Launching Ceremony of the Samalaju SME Cluster Project in Samalaju, here, on Monday.

The Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development added that the development of the town is crucial as Samalaju, located about 60 kilometres from Bintulu town, is now rapidly developing as an international-class industrial hub with the presence of various multinational companies.

In a related development, he said the development of the Samalaju SME Cluster would complement the existing industrial ecosystem by opening up more opportunities for local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to supply value-added products and services to companies operating in the industrial area.

Datuk Amar Awang Tengah said the project would be developed in 10 phases on an area of ​​96.72 hectares with an estimated total cost of RM223 million.

"Phase 1 and Phase 2, which have been completed, cost RM25.8 million and provide 21 industrial lots," he explained.

He also shared that the Ministry for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) would implement the Samalaju Collaborative and Operational Readiness Engine for MSMEs (SCORE-MSME) Programme to strengthen the competitiveness of local MSMEs through vendor development, technology transfer, global certification, skills enhancement and access to financing.

Also present were Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Majang Renggi, Jepak Assemblyman Iskandar Turkee and MINTRED Permanent Secretary Datu Lester Matthew. -UKASnews