Majang pledges to ensure employment, business opportunities for Samalaju residents

BINTULU: Samalaju Barisan Nasional candidate Majang Renggi has pledged to use his 32 years' working experience in oil and gas company, Petronas, to ensure residents get to partake of opportunities in SCORE.
The vice president IV of PRS, a BN component said Samalaju Industrial Park (SIP), which is part of the Sarawak Renewable Energy Corridor (SCORE) located on 8,000 hectares, is a heavy industry park worth RM28 billion worth of investment.
He noted that the park could potentially generate an abundance of employment and business opportunities.
"The community in Samalaju should grab the opportunities. If elected, I will help them in this matter," said Majang, 58, from Rumah Libau Sungai Tibus, Suai, near Niah.
Samalaju is one of 11 new seats at stake in the 11th Sarawak state election. It was created from the division of Kidurong (now Tanjung Batu) constituency and Kemena constituency.
"Samalaju is very important and can be described as a golden pond because there are giant Malaysian and international companies in the area. This shows how important it is as Sarawak and the country's economic hub.
"So as my pledge in this election, I will pursue business opportunities for locals to participate in SCORE and also in Samalaju economic hub," he told Bernama.
SIP is located near Samalaju Port and would have an eco-park, a new municipality, housing projects and various other facilities. It has green energy supply from the hydroelectric power stations in Bakun and Murum.
Although a 'vision and mission' for Samalaju is already in place, Majang believes certain aspects still needed improvement.
He cited roads, education facilities, telecommunications network, and health services and facilities.
The Asia e University (AeU) alumnus who holds an Executive Masters in Plantation Management said if elected, upgrading the Bintulu-Miri Road, Sepadok Road and Kuala Nyalau Road would be among his agenda.
"Road access to Rumah Jarau in Sungai Plan and Rumah Sagoh in Nyalau will also be upgraded, while the gravel road in Kampung Iran-Suai stretching 18km will be sealed," he promised.
Meanwhile, Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd employee, Jaffery Embik, 30, from Rumah Ungin, Bintulu-Miri (old) road welcomed Majang's pledge particularly in education and telecommunications.
"It would be good if he builds another secondary school because the nearest one is located about 40km and transport fare for one student is RM100 per month.
"Just think how much parents have to fork out if they have two or more secondary school-going children," he said.
On telecommunications facilities, Jaffery said he himself would disappear into the world of virtual reality after work in Tanjung Kidurong as the telecommunications network in his longhouse is very unsatisfactory.
Press Metal Sdn Bhd security staff Raymond Jenau Masing, 49, regards the creation of Samalaju Constituency as a blessing.
"I really hope Majang would win. What Samalaju currently has is a result of the development brought by the BN government and I believe the government also has a better plan, that's why they create the new seat," he said.
Majang is involved in a three-cornered fight with Baba ak Emperan from DAP and Zharudin Narusin from PAS in the polls on May 7. — Bernama