80pc jobs for Sabahans: CM
Published on: Friday, March 18, 2022
By: Ricardo Unto
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Hajiji being briefed by Joachim on the KKIP masterplan model.
Kota Kinabalu: Up to 80 per cent of the workforce is reserved for locals in a copper foil manufacturing plant expected to be completed by next year, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.He said this is in line with the Government’s policy of having 80 per cent local workforce in the State.ADVERTISEMENT
“The Government also wants the industries and factories that will be developed by investors in Sabah to provide employment opportunities to the local people in the State,” he said during a working visit to Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), here, Thursday.
The copper foil factory, Hajiji said, is being built by SK Nexilis from South Korea on a 100-acre plot in the KKIP, involving an investment of RM4.2 billion.
He added that this is one of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) investment projects by the GRS-led Government which is now bearing fruit, through the Industrial Development Ministry.
“So far, the progress of the project is at 10 per cent. The plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. SK Nexilis will provide more than 400 job opportunities when the plant is operational.ADVERTISEMENT
“This investment will have a positive impact on the socio-economy of Sabah, especially in providing employment opportunities to locals, logistics and related chains.”
For the project, SK Nexilis had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KKIP on March 23 last year, and the construction of the plant commenced on July 28 the same year.
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Earlier, Hajiji witnessed the lease agreement signing ceremony between KKIP and SBH Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn Bhd, aside from visiting the proposed site of a glass manufacturing plant.
SBH Kibing will invest RM2 billion in Sabah, involving three components, namely silica sand mining, construction of a silica sand processing plant and a photovoltaic glass manufacturing plant.
The company will take up a 30-year lease of a 130.4-acre plot for the construction of its factory.
The lease agreement was signed by Deputy Chief Minister cum Industrial Development Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam for KKIP and SBH Kibing President Lin Hai.
Meanwhile, Joachim, who is also KKIP Chairman, said SBH Kibing’s investment will involve the processing of silica that will be mined from Sikuati, Kudat into solar glass with the capacity of less than 2,400 metric tonnes per day.
“The investment value is RM2 billion and an estimated 1,000 job will be created for the solar glass plant in KKIP and another 300 jobs for the silica sand processing plant in Sikuati.
“The solar glass manufacturing plant will be located on a 130.4 acres at Industrial Zone 7 Phase 2, KKIP,” he said.
He said the signing of Thursday’s lease agreement signified “another important milestone in terms of generating investments in the State and ultimately towards increasing the contribution of manufacturing sector towards the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), providing business and employment opportunities to the State.” KKIP, he said, has attracted over 3.42 billion worth of investment and created over 10,002 jobs from the 242 factories in operation so far.
“These figures do not include the recent biggest investment yet, which is under construction and soon to operate.
“When SK Nexilis Malaysia Sdn Bhd is in full operational in September 2023, an additional investment of RM4.2 billion will be added to KKIP investment figures.
“This project will create 7,000 jobs during construction and 400 jobs when in operation.”
He also said KKIP aims to generate more high-impact industries so that there will be more investments and jobs.
“This means that we will continuously explore all viable targeted industrial sectors, including automotive, biotechnology, aerospace and logistics for our Free Economic Zone development contents.
“Therefore, we must work together to ensure and realise our important roles as enablers for investors to set up their investment timely and providing them with the right ecosystem.
“Specifically, I am referring to competitive cost of doing business, good connectivity and logistic, as well as readily available infrastructures,” he said.
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