Awang Tengah (second left) receiving a memento on behalf of Taib from Sulaiman (left). Also seen are Wan Alwi (second right) and Abdul Razak. — Photos by Chimon Upon
Abdul Wahab (right), who is also the chairman of Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Islam Saratok, receiving a mock cheque on behalf of Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Islam Saratok and Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Islam Kabong from Awang Tengah (second left), witnessed by (from left) Sulaiman, Abdul Razak and Wan Alwi.
KUCHING: Land Custody and Development Authority (Pelita), catalyst of land development in the state, must be daring enough to venture into other fields of business.
With the right strategy and approach, Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan believes the state-owned statutory body would be able to expand and succeed in its new endeavours.
“It is therefore important that Pelita must always take proactive approach in its management in view of the changing times, demand and expectations of the people.
“This certainly would require improvement in our working culture by inculcating effective corporate management system,” he said when representing Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at Pelita’s Appreciation Dinner 2014 at a leading hotel here on Wednesday.
Pelita’s core business activities are urban and property development, plantation development and management, native customary rights (NCR) land development, rural growth centre development as well as investment holdings.
To date, Pelita and its holding group Pelita Holdings Sdn Bhd (PHSB) has a group asset worth RM1.825 billion.
Awang Tengah, who is also Industrial Development Minister, attributed Pelita’s success in bringing about development and transformation throughout the state to the visionary and able leadership of Taib, who is also Pelita chairman.
“Over the years, Pelita had been successful in facilitating socio-economic transformation of the state through private sector partnerships. This business model has been successful as it provides good synergy for Pelita and the private sector to work together.”
Awang Tengah, who is also Public Utilities Minister, said this was reflected in the development and re-development of new landmarks in Kuching as well as in other cities and towns, even in the rural areas of the state.
“One of such projects with the involvement of the private sector is the Kuching Waterfront New Extension project, which involves extension to the existing Kuching Waterfront.
“This project, once fully implemented, will transform Sarawak riverbank into a multi-purpose waterfront esplanade providing an ideal venue for outdoor activities that will enhance the natural beauty of Sungai Sarawak.”
On the re-development of Darul Hana in Kuching and Kampung Datu in Sibu that had been entrusted to Pelita, Awang Tengah hoped that the development would take off, adding that the projects were aimed at improving the living standard of the local community and the villages involved.
Awang Tengah also hoped that Pelita would continue to be a government agency that contributes to the development of the state.
During the dinner, PHSB and Magna Focus Sdn Bhd each donated RM1 million to Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Masjid Negeri Sarawak (LAKMNS), received by Awang Tengah on behalf of Taib, who is also LAKMNS chairman.
Among those present were Awang Tengah’s wife Datuk Dayang Morliah, Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Assistant Land Development Minister Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz, Pelita general manager Datu Dr Sulaiman Hussaini, State Attorney-General Datu Abdul Razak Tready and Magna Focus Sdn Bhd chairman Datu Wan Alwi Dato Sri Wan Hashim.