NAIM – STIDC ENTERS MOU TO DEVELOP HOUSING PROJECT IN TANJUNG MANIS

Naim Cendera Holdings Berhad (NAIM) wholly owned subsidiary; Naim Cendera Sdn Bhd entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) for the development of a public housing project in Tanjung Manis.

The scope of cooperation in the MoU includes, among others, Naim providing STIDC with all the technical expertise for the development and construction of the housing project which is expected to be finalized and implemented soon.

The joint venture proposal will see the development of Phase II, III and V of the housing project; located at Lot 20 and 22 Buan Land District. It also extends to Naim’s project management expertise.

The MoU signing ceremony was held after the launching ceremony of the RM185 million Tanjung Manis Shipbuilding Industry Complex which was officiated by Chief Minister of Sarawak, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud at BBTM yesterday.

STIDC was represented by its General Manager; Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh while Naim was represented by its Deputy Managing Director;
Dr Sharifudddin Abdul Wahab and witnessed by the Chief Minister.

Naim’s core businesses are in property development and construction. The Bumiputra-owned company has carved a name in developing new townships and commercial centre in Bandar Baru Permyjaya Miri, Desa Ilmu in Kota Samarahan and The Riveria in Kuching.

The company was listed at Bursa Malaysia in 2003 and has built some 12,000 homes and commercial buildings with some RM3 billion worth of construction projects secured.

As announced earlier by the Chief Minister, Sarawak’s government is expecting some 1.6 million new jobs to be created by high-impact industries and other sectors when the recently launched Sarawak Corridor Of Renewable Energy (SCORE) is fully developed by 2030.

Launched by Prime Minister Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Haji Abdullah Badawi on February 11; the high-impact industries were expected to be set up along the 320km long corridor between Tanjung Manis and Similajau.

An area of 70,000sq kilometres, affecting more than 600,000 people, is also expected to be developed.

With the influx of manpower into the regional corridor, there is a crucial need for more public housing and related amenities.

The Chief Minister lauded the proposed joint venture between STIDC and Naim for it will complement the rapid development in Tanjung Manis, a port whose hinterland is resource-rich. It is also expected to become an important regional port city by 2030.

For STIDC, the development of the project together with Naim as its partner augurs well for its efforts in providing adequate housing facilities for the booming population at Tanjung Manis.

On a similar note, the project will mark Naim’s foray into Tanjung Manis’ property sector. It is envisaging the inflow of labour force into the region and the anticipated demand for housing and commercial facilities with the development of SCORE over the next 20 years.

“Naim feels that in relation to the various economic activities going to be implemented in SCORE, the spillover effect will surely propel the move of workers (skilled and unskilled) into the affected areas” said Dr Sharifuddin.

“The demand for housing and relevant sectors is the likely anticipated effect” he added while disclosing that Naim is also aggressively looking to expand its land-bank of over 1,200ha, particularly in Sibu, Sarikei and Bintulu, which are within the SCORE.

In conjunction with the launching of SCORE, Naim would be setting up 2 regional centres in Bintulu to be one of the platforms for the rapid development of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.