Kota Kinabalu: State Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, urged Sabah-based companies, particularly those in the oil and gas industry, to expand their operations and increase participation in projects outside the state.
“I would be very pleased to see Sabah companies securing projects outside the state. This is a crucial step for their growth and, at the same time, will benefit our economy.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Therefore, I want to emphasize that local companies in this industry must take the initiative to prepare themselves.
“Do everything necessary, including meeting the requirements set by Petronas, so that when the time comes to bid for projects, the process will be much smoother,” he said when speaking to reporters after launching the Young Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Program at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Thursday.
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“The key is to fulfil all Petronas’ requirements if you wish to be involved in the bidding process. “This includes attending training programs, registering with Petronas, and meeting other necessary conditions. “The issue we often see is that some companies underestimate these requirements, thinking the process is easy. They register a company, submit a single tender, and when they don’t win, they get frustrated,” he said.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Masidi also highlighted that SMJ Energy was established as a coordinating body to assist local companies in reaching the qualifications necessary to bid for oil and gas projects.
“Right now, many local Sabah companies have potential, but their qualifications often limit them to lower-level projects. “They can only handle basic tasks, not because they lack capability, but because they need to gain experience first. By completing simpler projects, they will eventually be able to bid for larger ones. “For now, we are allowing companies from outside Sabah to bid for projects in the state, but with one condition – they must partner with local Sabah companies.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“This mentorship strategy will help local businesses develop and gain experience,” he added.
SMJ Energy, which operates under the Sabah State Government, was established following the Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA) between Sabah and Petronas in December 2021.
