CM expects bigger Sabah role

Published on: Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman urged more Sabah entrepreneurs, especially Bumiputeras, to venture into the oil and gas industry given the importance of the sector to the State.

He said currently the number of Sabah entrepreneurs in the industry is still very low. "I hope more (Sabah) entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to participate in the industry," he said, after witnessing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Naim Engineering Sdn Bhd and DPMMS Sabah branch consortium and Sabah Oil and Gas Contractors Association (Sogca).

Musa said he frequently requested Petronas to provide opportunities to Sabah entrepreneurs and Bumiputeras because of the industry's significance to the State.

The Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) was being built so that entrepreneurs or contractors here could take part in the industry which has huge potential to be developed and expanded.

At the same time, Musa concurred with Malaysia Malay Chamber of Commerce (DPMMS) Sabah branch Chairman, Datuk Awang Buhtamam Awang Mahmun, that the entrepreneurs be improved on its capacity building.

To this, he said Sarawak-based Naim Engineering should give opportunity as well as to assist Sabah entrepreneurs in their endeavour in oil and gas.

With Naim Engineering's expertise, he believed that such opportunity would be made available to the entrepreneurs. Naim Engineering was chosen by Petronas as the main contractor to implement the SOGT in Kimanis worth RM2.4 billion.

Meanwhile, Naim Holdings Berhad Chairman, Datuk Abdul Hamed Sepawi, assured that the company aim to work with local entrepreneurs in Sabah in line with Petronas' desire for more local content in projects.

He said Naim Engineering is also doing likewise.

"We will try our best to accommodate local entrepreneurs here especially in the services, procurement and manpower areas," he said, adding there are many areas in the oil and gas industry where local entrepreneurs could play a part.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman Presenting a souvenir to the US Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Faauaa Hunkin.

Naim Engineering was chosen by Petronas as the main contractor to implement the SOGT in Kimanis worth RM2.4 billion.

While Naim Holdings Berhad involvement in the industry is quite new, he said it has the expertise in project management as well as in several areas.

To strengthen his point, Abdul Hamed said the oil and gas downstream industry in Miri and Bintulu have been in place for quite a long time.

"(So, rest assured) because there is a lot of areas where we (Naim Engineering and local entrepreneurs) can cooperate," he said.

With regards to the Kimanis SOGT, he said Naim will endeavour to work closely with Sogca and DPMMS to get more participation from Sabah Bumiputera contractors and suppliers on its own or in joint venture with others.