Sarawak Cabinet may be reshuffled next year

Sunday November 18, 2007

Taib may reshuffle Cabinet next year

KUCHING: The Sarawak Cabinet could see a reshuffle after the launch of the state's development corridor early next year, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday.

"I want to consolidate many things first and I may have to change the division of powers (in the Cabinet)," he told reporters after chairing a meeting for Barisan Nasional assemblymen in preparation for the state legislative assembly sitting, which starts tomorrow.

The proposed Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), stretching from Mukah to Bintulu in the state's central region, will be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

It is being studied by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).

Asked when the corridor would be launched, Taib said that it was up to the Prime Minister to decide.

"Probably he'll come in January, but I will leave it to him. As far as I'm concerned, we have prepared everything.

"We have a clear roadmap for our corridor – what we want to achieve and what our emphasis will be," he said.

Taib added that the corridor would provide opportunities for public and private investment besides attracting energy-intensive industries to the state.