Economic Pact or political pact?

DCCI signs economic pact with Pekema Sarawak

Posted on March 10, 2012, Saturday

KUCHING: The historic signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Malay Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (Pekema) Sarawak and Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) could pave the way for the state’s Bumiputera communities to become main economic players.
Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who witnessed the signing yesterday, said such cooperation could lead to many business opportunities locally and beyond.
“I feel it is timely and appropriate for DCCI and Pekema to work together. With this, I am sure we (the Bumiputera) can position ourselves as a business community that is modern. Due to our abundant natural resources and strategic location in the Asian economic map, I am sure the Bumiputera business community can grow and become main players in the region, and eventually on the global stage.”
He pointed out that the ‘Bejalai’ spirit of the Iban community, which has seen many of them move to Johor, and the fact that many Sarawakians are involved in the oil and gas industries abroad, showed that Sarawakians are an adventurous lot.
But for them to be more successful in business, the state’s Bumiputera communities need to have a stronger platform to act. One such platform is via greater cooperation among themselves and with others.
On Pekema and DCCI, he envisioned the two entities working together in the field of land development and eco-tourism.
“In DCCI, they have a precious asset, which is land. To develop the land, they need capital and this where the ‘automobile towkays’ from Pekema can come in. Identify the right commodities, such as oil palm and rubber, to venture into.
“Another area of cooperation is in the field of eco-tourism. I was in Bakun recently, and I was excited by its many (untapped) potential, including the 20 man-made islands on the lake,” said Abang Johari, who is also tourism minister.
Meanwhile, both DCCI president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo Moggie and Pekema Sarawak president Datuk Abang Khalid Marzuki expressed hope that their cooperation could bring the state’s Bumiputera communities forward in the business arena.
Moggie said DCCI did not hesitate to agree to the MoU when it was proposed by DCCI deputy president Dato Sri Celestine Ujang at a recent supreme council meeting.
“We perceive it as a way to move ahead in the modern world of commerce and industry,” he said, stressing that not many from the Dayak community have ventured into business and succeeded because it was still unchartered territory for many of them.
Abang Khalid said both entities would work together in holding workshops and forums to increase Bumiputera participation in business and improve the performance of Bumiputera-owned companies.
Also present at the event were DCCI advisor Tan Sri Leonard Linggi Jugah and Pekema Sarawak deputy president Ismail Saufi.