‘Vast economic opportunities in Lawas’

LAWAS: The construction of the proposed new Lawas Airport under the 11th Malaysia Plan and several major development spin-offs in the Kuala Lawas and Lawas light industrial estate belt will create many jobs and economic opportunities for pro-active locals.

This was revealed by Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment and Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who said a South Korean company had expressed interest in opening a shoe manufacturing factory in Lawas, but subject to manpower availability.

“The chairman said he needs 5,000 workers and asked me if this is possible when I broached the idea with him in our recent meeting,” he said at the Hari Raya gathering organised by PBB at Kampung Nor Islam in Kuala Lawas recently.

Awang Tengah said Lawas’ strategic location along the shorter route to Sarawak’s border with Sabah and the upcoming developments in the surrounding area would offer the local community with many economic activities.

He thus advised the local community to venture into contract works, including harvesting of fresh fruit bunches of oil palm in the LCDA-driven Ladang Rakyat in Kuala Lawas.

He told the 1,200 local shareholders in the joint-venture with Felcra and LCDA not to be contented with the dividends paid by the company.

However, he said he had discussed with Felcra for advance dividends of RM400 each to the shareholders and hoped it would be approved by the management board.

“There are many opportunities in the plantation, and perhaps locals can form a company to undertake contract works here,” he said.

Responding to the local community’s request to extend the operating hours of the Kuala Lawas ferry service, he said it would be raised with Public Works Department. The ferry currently stops operating at 8pm daily.

He also said he had instructed Lawas District Council to properly plan the hawkers centre on both sides of the ferry point to provide a pleasant and hygienic trading place and project a positive image of Lawas.

On the request for the extension of Kampung Nor Islam and a village ring road, he said they would be undertaken by the respective authorities.

On another matter, Awang Tengah called on the people of Kuala Lawas to be united and remain steadfast behind Barisan Nasional in the coming state election.

Others present at the function were Awang Tengah’s wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Datuk Awang Daud, Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Lawas district officer Husaini Hakim, PBB executive secretary Awang Bujang Awang Antek and Bukit Sari deputy branch chairman councillor Awangku Jinal Abidin Pengiran Jawa.- Borneo Post