Benefits of Sarawak Master Plan Wide

PETALING JAYA: The development master plan for Sarawak is expected to benefit not only Sarawak Energy Bhd but also several companies already established there and those originating from the Land of the Hornbills.

The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), which was launched on Monday, would be a major boost for companies such as Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMS), TRC Synergy Bhd, Hock Seng Lee Bhd, Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd, WCT Engineering Bhd and Loh & Loh Corp Bhd.

Aseambankers said in a research note yesterday that UBG Bhd and Putrajaya Perdana Bhd might also play significant roles following the proposed change in the core business direction for UBG and ownership of the latter.

CMS group managing director Datuk Richard Curtis said the company was excited about Score and the potential projects.

”Apart from our RM7bil joint venture with Rio Tinto Alcan in the Sarawak Aluminium Co aluminium smelter, we are looking to participate in other developments in and around the Similajau area.

“They include construction of infrastructure, port, housing and other heavy industries,” Curtis told StarBiz.

He said the company’s recent acquisition of Sarawak’s only clinker producer, Sarawak Clinker Sdn Bhd, complemented its construction materials business and positioned CMS to benefit from the construction activities within Score.

The planned development under Score is estimated to cover 70,709 sq km and some RM500bil worth of private investment were committed at its launch.

TRC Synergy executive chairman Datuk Seri Sufri Mohd Zin said that development of such scale would help propel economic activities in Sarawak and provide a major boost for the construction sector.

“We envisage companies with a strong presence in Sarawak like TRC Synergy will have an added advantage. We expect the value of the infrastructure works to be in line with the scale of development.

“Since infrastructure works are TRC Synergy’s strength, we will participate in the tender,” he told StarBiz.

TRC Synergy so far has been involved in more than RM600mil worth of projects in Sarawak.

Sufri said about 50% of the company’s workforce and machinery were in Sabah and Sarawak.

“Given our strength and the infrastructure in Sarawak, we are optimistic we have a reasonably good chance of securing some of the projects there,” he said.

TRC Synergy’s order book currently stands at about RM1.45bil.

Another company with experience in Sarawak is WCT Engineering, which built a dam in Bintulu.

Currently, the company is part of a consortium that has secured the main civil works contract for the Bakun dam.

Its subsidiary WCT Construction Sdn Bhd is undertaking the sub-contract civil works valued at RM380mil.

(Taken from biz.thestar.com.my)