"I (REALLY) WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND CONTRACTORS TO TAKE PART IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY," - MUSA

CM reminds Petronas to honour obligations to Sabah

 Kota Kinabalu October 05, 2011 : Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman on Monday again reiterated his call to the national oil company, Petronas, to provide adequate opportunities to eligible locals in Sabah to participate directly in the oil and gas industry.

He also urged the company and all parties concerned to ensure the locals here obtain contracting jobs with it.

"But most importantly, Petronas and parties concerned create employment opportunities and economic spinoffs for the people of Sabah," he told the media after a meeting with Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) at Le Meridien.

He said the State Government is monitoring and co-operating with Petronas on how to distribute the projects from the oil company to local contractors in Sabah.

He said that this is to ensure the people of Sabah would not be merely bystanders to the development that are taking place in the State.

At the same time, he said it is also to ensure the people of Sabah would not be left out in the mainstream economic activities especially in the oil and gas industry.

Looking at the scenario, he expressed confidence that Petronas would give due consideration to the State Government's request for local participation.

The national oil company Musa said is in the best position to spearhead the effort to engage locally based state oil and gas companies in the State.

To this, he urged local businessmen to actively take part in the oil and gas industry.

"I (really) would like to see more local entrepreneurs and contractors to take part in the oil and gas industry," he said.

On other development, he applauded the initiatives taken by the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) to align the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP with other state initiatives such as the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) and the Halatuju.

He said it is a clear indication how serious is the Federal Government, especially Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in ensuring Sabah is not left behind in the efforts to enhance the nation's income level and to achieve the goal to steer Malaysia into a high-income country.

Musa, who is also State Finance Minister, said he is closely monitoring the progress of this effort.

He said that he is also getting feedback and on programmes under the Pemandu Cities and Corridors Lab for Sabah, which was undertaken as part of the ETP by Pemandu. The lab, he said, is currently on going and lasts until end of October.

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Training for Sabah youths in oil and gas

“I wanted to enrol for a course in Peninsula Malaysia, but after finding out more about KTC from my family and because of my interest in the oil and gas field, I agreed to join the course.”

Abdul Sharin, 21, from Bongawan

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“I attended the briefing and due to my interest in oil and gas industry, I found the speaker’s points very interesting. I was surprised as the questions asked during the interview were very similar to the points in the speech. After the interview, I was certain I would be selected,”

Azrie Slamat, 19, from Bongawan

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“I was told that the course I’m taking now is within a much needed field especially in Sabah. So, once I’ve obtained my certificate, I’m determined to continue my studies elsewhere and hope to become a trainer at the new KTC,”

Syahrul Asyraf, 18, from Bongawan

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PETRONAS Kimanis Petroleum Training Centre (KTC), which will begin its operations in 2013, focuses on providing oil and gas industry skills and developing manpower among youths to sustain industry needs.

the centre is expected to produce skilled workers for Sabah’s oil and gas projects like Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT), Kimanis Power Plant (KPP), Sabah Sarawak Gas Pipelines and also other manufacturing plants.

Azhar Aris, KTC’s internal verification officer and trainer