MITI proposes Sarawak to be Borneo’s aerospace hub, says Tengku Zafrul

KUCHING (July 29): The Federal Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry has proposed Sarawak as the aerospace hub of Borneo, its minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said.

He said this was proposed during the Joint Industrial Coordination Committee (JBI) meeting between MITI and the Sarawak government, which was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan today.

He pointed out that the Sarawak government had recently announced measures to participate in the aerospace sector through the construction of a new airport and the establishment of its own airlines.

“Recently, Sarawak also announced that it will train talents in its local universities, with a focus on the green aerospace industry. So the talent aspect is there.

“If we consider the geographical location of Sarawak, in terms of position, it is very good because it is close to Nusantara (the new capital of Indonesia) and close to Korea and Japan. Not only Asian countries but also Australia,” he said at a press conference after the meeting.

Tengku Zafrul said the aerospace sector is one of the five thrusts of the national investment policy, where the economic spin-offs would greatly benefit the local population and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

He added that maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and manufacturing sectors are among the areas of focus for developing the aerospace industry.

“The third area of ​​focus is the green energy available in Sarawak. The aerospace industry needs a lot of renewable energy,” he added.

Asked about the federal government’s involvement in the development of the Sarawak Aerospace Hub, he said his ministry, through the National Aerospace Industry Corporation Malaysia (NAICO), would work in collaboration with Sarawak.

“We are all working together, like we did in Selangor at Subang airport. Here in Sarawak, there is a project to build a new airport and we will focus on the aviation industry,” he said.

At the same time, Awang Tengah said Sarawak supports MITI’s proposal to transform the state into an aerospace hub for Borneo.

“It’s a good thing. We know we can benefit from many location advantages. Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Subang Airport are already crowded.

“So we are planning to build a new airport. We are also going to modernize other areas of the airport. This will provide better opportunities for economic activity, so we support this proposal,” he said.

On another issue, Awang Tengah said Sarawak had proposed at the meeting that Senari Port in Kuching and Miri Port be upgraded to free trade zones – a proposal that received a positive response from MITI.

He added that Sarawak has also proposed the expansion of the Sama Jaya industrial estate in Kuching, which will require funding from the federal government.