KOTA TINGGI, May 13 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim ibni
Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, today launched a refinery and petrochemical integrated
development (RAPID) project in Pengerang and advised detractors to change their
mind lest the people there be denied development.
He expressed sadness that a small group of people was opposed to the
Petronas project and was trying to instigate others to stage protests and make
unreasonable demands.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul
Ghani Othman and Petronas president and CEO Datuk Shamsul Azhar Abbas were also
present at the event.
Sultan Ibrahim said the selection of Pengerang as an oil and gas industry
hub was a blessing for Johor because the state and its people would stand to
benefit from the large investments pouring in.
The RAPID development would also open up jobs and businesses which would
help raise the living standard of the people, he said.
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JOHOR-RAPID 2 KOTA TINGGI
The older people would be happy that their children and grandchildren would
be able to secure employment in Pengerang itself and not have to find jobs
elsewhere, he added.
The sultan said he had been informed that due compensation would be paid for
the property acquired for the development of the project, and advised the people
not to make unreasonable demands.
Sultan Ibrahim said the government and related parties should exercise
fairness in resolving the problems associated with the people, adding that he
would make regular trips to Pengerang to ensure that the project progressed as
planned.
RAPID, which involves an investment of RM60 billion, will have the capacity
to refine 300,000 barrels of imported crude oil and would offer 4,000 permanent
jobs.
Abdul Ghani, in his speech, said the quantum of compensation for the
affected people would be announced in October at the latest.
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JOHOR-RAPID 3 (LAST) KOTA TINGGI
"The government realises that the matter of compensation is uppermost in the
minds of the people. We hope that they will be patient and wait for the
announcement," he said.
Abdul Ghani gave the undertaking that the state government would ensure that
the people derived the best benefit from the implementation of the project.
He said the affected people would be relocated in stages, with the first
batch set to move in March next year from three villages, namely Sungai Kapal,
Teluk Empang and Langkah Baik.
Abdul Ghani said he was convinced the project would be a catalyst for the
development of various oil and gas support industries which would provide local
companies the opportunity to interact with international oil and petrochemical
companies expected to participate in the project.
This would help raise the level of skills, knowledge and capability of the
local companies in the fields of engineering, procurement or technical
installation, he said.
Shamsul, in his speech, said RAPID symbolised the determination of Petronas
to develop its downstream transactions and consolidate further the company''s
capacity to compete in the petroleum and petrochemical products market in the
Asian region.
-- BERNAMA
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