KUDAT: Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam has attended a meeting which was also held online (zoom meeting) to discuss the latest status of the Sbh Kibing Solar New Materials (M) SDN Bhd silica sand processing plant project in Sikuati, here.
The Industrial Development Minister (MID), who was given a briefing by the company’s Managing Director Lin Hai during the meeting, has asked all government and private departments and agencies involved to provide strong cooperation to this project.
The meeting, held at the Kudat Golf and Marina Resort, was also attended by Kibing Group Chairman, Yu Qi Bing; MID Permanent Secretary, Thomas Logijin and his Deputy, Benedick Bisoni; Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR) Director, Tseu Kei Yue, Kudat District Officer, Haji Bakrun Nanun, Heads of Departments such as the Water Department, Sabah Electricity Sdn. Bhd. (SESB), Kudat Customs Department, Sabah Ports and Wharfs Department, Marine Department, Sabah Park, Sabah Port Sdn Bhd, Kudat Police Headquarters, Immigration Department, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Environment, MIDA and several company representatives- private companies as well as Kibing officials who attended the meetings physically or online.
Dr Joachim said among the issues raised in the meeting were the needs and support for facilities such as electricity and water supply.
He said Kibing had also applied to the Government for workers’ passes to be issued for the entry of 300 Chinese workers during the project.
Kibing has started their projects in Peninsular Malaysia like in Negeri Sembilan and Johor and on January 18, the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor himself witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MID and China- SBH Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn. Bhd.
The project is to develop a plant to process silica sand and produce solar panels in Sikuati, with an initial investment value of RM2 billion.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, this is the first significant activity in Sikuati that has been ‘sleeping’ for a while, thus providing employment opportunities to the people in Sabah, especially in Kudat.
Dr Joachim hopes that this silica investment will have a big impact on Sabah’s economic development and it would be sustainable.
