KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has assigned himself to reform Syarikat Sesco Bhd in the next one or two years.Announcing this yesterday, he said the power supply company had to be reformed in line with its plans to increase power generation to more than 3,000MW from the current 1,000MW by 2016.

“This is to meet the energy demand from the aluminium smelter and a few energy-intensive industries. This is a steep climb from the present 1,000MW,” he told reporters here.

Taib, who is also Planning and Resource Management Minister, said the move was in line with preparations for an undersea cable to be constructed from Bakun dam to Peninsular Malaysia if the project is to get the green light from the federal government.

Besides, he said, a Norwegian had been earmarked as Sesco’s new chief executive officer (CEO).

“Sesco has recruited a CEO from Norway who has headed big electricity companies on hydro and coal fire stations,” he said.

He added: “He has also served in an aluminium smelter in Norway and was involved in price negotiations and agreement.”

Taib said Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan who is Second Planning and Resource Management and Public Utilities Minister would be assisting him in the reformation works particularly to deal with the State Planning Authority.

He said Tengah who currently had Sylvester Entri Muran as his assistant would have another assistant in Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

“Tengah needs someone energetic to help him transform Sesco,” he said, adding that Dr Rundi was an active politician who had been serving Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) as  secretary-general.

He said Dr Rundi would also hold the Assistant Minister of Public Health portfolio, he said.

To a question, Taib said someone else would be appointed to replace Dr Rundi as the Sarawak Rivers Board chairman after the new cabinet line up takes effect on Dec 1.

On the appointment of Sarawak Tourism Board CEO, he said a senior officer from an airline company had been considered for the post.