Local firms shunned - The Star Online
The Star Online, 7 November 2014
Well Done... Sarawak Assistant Minister for Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin (standing white shirt) presenting certificates of safety to people in the Borneo Safety Training Services Complex in Miri yesterday
MIRI: There are increasing complaints from local Sarawakian companies that it is very difficult for them to secure big contracts with national oil company Petronas, even for projects located inside Sarawak territories.
Sarawak Assistant Minister for Communications Datuk Kee Kim Shin yesterday said that local Sarawakian companies were frustrated by the attitude of Petronas that seemed to favour companies from outside Sarawak to handle major projects in the state.
Speaking when handing over safety certificates at the Borneo Safety Training Services complex (BSTS) in Kuala Baram, he said there were many capable and qualified local companies that should be given the chance to handle major contracts relating to the onshore and offshore oil and gas industries in the state.
“Petronas has many projects in this state but it seemed to favour giving major contracts to contractors from outside Sarawak, leaving Sarawakian companies to handle only small sub-contracts,” Kee said.
“Sarawakian companies have informed me that they are unable to secure licences from Petronas to handle lucrative projects. Petronas imposed conditions that are deemed too restrictive against Sarawakian companies.”
He said the state hoped that Petronas would change this stance.
“Petronas should consider giving locals more opportunities to handle projects inside Sarawak.
“Sarawak has more than 104 years’ experience in the oil and gas sectors, especially here in Miri where the country’s very first oil reserves were uncovered and tapped.
“Sarawakian oil and gas workers are in great demand overseas.
“Sarawakians have the necessary experience and skills and also the knowledge to handle complex projects in any oil and gas sectors, so there is no valid reason to deny local companies a bigger share of Petronas projects in Sarawak,” he added.
Lee, who is also Assistant State Minister for Sports and vice-president of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), said that Petronas must also reserve more top jobs for Sarawakians in view of the fact that Sarawak was one of the main oil and gas producers in Malaysia.
At the moment, he said, only two Sarawakians were holding senior positions in Petronas’ top management.
He praised BSTS for being the first fully-owned Sarawakian company to handle a major training complex in this state that deals with work-safety training.
“BSTS is the first 100% Sarawakian-owned company accredited internationally as a qualified international training service provider in safety and emergency.
“Workers trained by the centre are recognised internationally. I hope that the centre will not only train locals but also attract foreigners to come for training.
“Miri can in fact be the international hub for training workers for the oil and gas industries,” he stressed.
BSTS provides safety and health training for Shell, Petronas, Nippon Oil and companies in the construction and marine sectors.
It has trained more than 100,000 workers over the past decade or so.
