Sarawak: The Sarawak government is in the process of assessing the potential for gold mining in Bau, following the discovery of new gold deposits in the area, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. Awang Tengah, who also serves as the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, noted that the state is considering a pilot project in the 5,281-hectare mining area under the Sarawak Mineral and Quarrying Industry Development Policy.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Awang Tengah stated that the Sarawak government aims to strengthen the mining and quarrying industry by formulating a comprehensive policy focused on high-tech and sustainable mining methods. This approach seeks to minimize environmental impacts. He emphasized the importance of the pilot project in evaluating the feasibility of future commercial mining and managing associated impacts. These remarks were made during a session at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building.

Additionally, Awang Tengah mentioned the proposal for a digital system called the Sarawak Minerals Information System (SMIS) to be developed under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). This system aims to enhance the efficiency of mineral and rock resource management in Sarawak. In terms of human capital development, approximately 1,400 new job opportunities in various levels and fields have been identified for the upstream mining and quarrying industry in the state.

The Sarawak government, through the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS), will continue to offer Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to prepare school and university graduates for the workforce. Moreover, efforts are underway to establish collaboration with the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, for research and development purposes, mining technology, and professional workforce development in the industry.