Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy


The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy is an economic region and development corridor covering central Sarawak, a Malaysian State on the island of Borneo. SCORE was launched on 11 February 2008 by the 5th Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. It is one of the five regional development corridors launched throughout Malaysia during the Abdullah Ministry. SCORE is managed by the Regional Corridors Development Authority, a State Government agency created through an Ordinance of the State Legislative Assembly. In 2014, SCORE accounted for 90% of Sarawak total foreign direct investment of RM 9.6 billion, and about 87.2% were from foreign investors. Chief Minister of Sarawak, Adenan Satem was quoted as saying that 19 projects with more than MYR 32 billion in FDI has been approved so far.

Objectives of SCORE

According to RECODA, the six objectives of SCORE are:
  1. To create new sources of wealth;
  2. To move the State's economy up the value chain;
  3. To achieve higher per capita income;
  4. To achieve balanced regional development;
  5. To enhance quality of life; and
  6. To eradicate poverty.

    RECODA Board of Directors and Management

The Regional Corridors Development Authorities Ordinance 2006 passed by the State Legislative Assembly of Sarawak establishes RECODA as a body corporate. The Ordinance provides that the Yang di-Pertuan Negeri may "constitute a Regional Corridor Development Authority" or "appoint a body corporate to be the Regional Corridor Development Authority for that Regional Corridor". Each authority has its own board which "is responsible for the effective and efficient performance of the agency" and "provides direction to the Chief Executive Officer".
Members of the Board of Directors are:-
RECODA Chief Executive Officer is the Board's ex officio Secretary. The incumbent is Datu Haji Ismawi bin Haji Ismuni who took over from Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot in January 2018.

Agencies Under RECODA

In order to expand the SCORE initiative into rural Sarawak, three agencies under RECODA were established:-

Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA)

URDA was established on July 12, 2017. Its chairman is YB Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. James Jemut anak Masing.

Highland Development Agency (HDA)

HDA was established on July 12, 2017. Its establishment covers a geographical area 18,462 km2 that impacts 75,000 people across 244 villages and longhouses in the Baram Parliamentary constituency. YB Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas serves as the Chairman of the HDA. Among its primary objectives is "to close the socioeconomic gap that exists between regions within Sarawak and ultimately eradicate poverty, by leveraging on the rich biodiversity, cool climate, and large tracts of land in the highland areas, as well as realising the potential of agro-tourism in the region". Among its initiatives underway is the Integrated Highland Agriculture Collection Centre situated at Long Bangan-Long Beruang-Long Peluan, Ulu Baram.

Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA)

NRDA was established on March 15, 2018. YB Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan is currently the NRDA Chairman. NRDA's purposes include:
In 2008, SCORE covered an area of 70,709 km2 of central region of Sarawak; with a coast line of 320 km long. In the 2017 expansion, it covers about 100,000 square kilometres. Major urban centres that fall within its jurisdiction are Sibu, Bintulu, Mukah, Sarikei, Bintulu, Miri, Lawas, Limbang, and Kapit.
The five nodes of SCORE are:

Samalaju

The main area of development in Samalaju is the Samalaju Industrial Park. As of 2014, 15 out of 19 projects in SCORE are located in SIP, with an FDI of MYR 27 billion. Currently, Press Metal Bhd , Japan's Tokuyama Corporation and Iwatani-SIG Industrial Gases Sdn Bhd are operational at SIP. In 2014, three producers of ferroalloy and manganese are and will be operating in SIP, OM Materials,Pertama Ferroalloys and Sakura Ferroalloys.

Priority Industries

The Government of Sarawak identified ten priority industries to be pushed through SCORE. The first four are dubbed the "trigger industries":
  1. Aluminium industry;
  2. Glass industry;
  3. Oil-based industries;
  4. Steel industry;
  5. Palm oil industry;
  6. Fish & aquaculture industry;
  7. Livestock industry;
  8. Timber-based industries;
  9. Marine engineering industry; and
  10. Tourism industry.

    Industrial transformation

According to SCORE's official website, Sarawak's industrial sector is currently undergoing a transformation and the opportunities for investment are immense. Value-added industries are taking an increasingly dominant role in the development of the state and the days when Sarawak exported raw materials that were finished elsewhere are long over, with the new clusters set to put “Made in Sarawak” stamps on more goods and services in the years to come.

Top industries

Priority industries that will have the highest economic impact on Sarawak are given priority focus in marketing planning, investment promotion and physical development planning.
  1. Oil-based industry
  2. Aluminium industry
  3. Steel industry
  4. Tourism industry
  5. Palm-oil industry
  6. Timber-based industry
  7. Livestock industry
  8. Aquaculture industry
  9. Marine engineering industry.
  10. Glass industry