Miri’s O&G legacy calls for stronger PETRONAS community devt, says Senadin rep

Lee speaking at the PETRONAS Memacu Kehidupan Hari Gawai 2026 event at the FORUM Hall in Miri on June 19, 2026. Source: Ukas

By DayakDaily Team

MIRI, June 21: Senadin assemblyman Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin expressed hope that Miri would continue to benefit from PETRONAS’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, citing the city’s historical significance as the birthplace of the nation’s petroleum industry.

Lee, who is also the Sarawak Transport Minister, said that Miri’s significant connection to the oil and gas industry can be traced back to the discovery of the country’s first oil well at Canada Hill in 1910, which laid the foundation for the development of Malaysia’s petroleum sector.

Since then, he said that the oil and gas industry has made major contributions to Sarawak’s—and subsequently, Malaysia’s—economic development.

As such, he said, the community development benefits brought through PETRONAS’ CSR programmes need to continue being strengthened in Miri, including in rural and interior areas.

“I hope that when PETRONAS carries out its CSR programmes, Miri will not be forgotten, because this is where the nation’s oil industry began.

“Much of the revenue from this industry has contributed to the country’s development,” he said at the PETRONAS Memacu Kehidupan Hari Gawai 2026 event at the Federation of Orang Ulu Association Sarawak Malaysia (FORUM) Hall here on Friday (June 19), as reported by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas).

Lee noted that despite Miri division being nearly the size of Pahang, many of its interior areas still require sustained attention and support, particularly in infrastructure development, the provision of basic amenities, and efforts to improve community wellbeing.

He also highlighted the contributions of generations of Miri residents to the oil and gas industry, noting that the sector has become an integral part of the division’s identity and has played a significant role in shaping its development over the years.

Meanwhile, he emphasised that Sarawak’s future development must be driven not only by its natural resources, but also by the cultivation of a highly skilled and quality workforce capable of supporting the State’s long-term growth.

He said this could be achieved through continued and strengthened investment in education, technical training, and local talent development to ensure Sarawakians are able to seize opportunities in strategic industries, including oil and gas, the digital economy, and the green economy.

“Human capital development is a long-term investment that will determine the state’s competitiveness in the future. We need to produce more highly skilled workers who can meet the needs of current and future industries,” he said.

During the event, Lee also officiated the symbolic presentation of food basket contributions to recipients of the PETRONAS Memacu Kehidupan Hari Gawai 2026 programme.

Through the initiative, PETRONAS distributed food baskets containing necessities to 200 recipients from around Miri and surrounding rural areas, including Lambir, as part of efforts to help those in need in conjunction with Gawai Dayak.

The programme reflects PETRONAS’s ongoing commitment to engaging with local communities and contributing to public well-being through various social development initiatives.

Also present were PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd – Sarawak Asset senior general manager Shalby Reduan, Miri Division Resident Galong Luang, PETRONAS Malaysia Petroleum Management general manager Calvin Ritek, and PETRONAS Sarawak senior manager Rhymie Rashidie Ibrahim. — DayakDaily