KUCHING – Works for the extension of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus here will take off soon following two contracts valued at RM68.5 million signed between Pometia Sdn Bhd and PPES Works (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd yesterday.

   State Secretary Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain, who is Swinburne Sarawak Sdn Bhd chairman, said the two contracts awarded were a RM60 million project for the extension of the campus and a RM8.5 million project for two blocks of four-storey student hostels.

   "Once completed the RM60 million extended facilities will include 44 engineering, science and research labs; 24 computer labs; a conference facility which can accommodate up to 450 people; a lecture theatre which can accommodate up to 380 students; a new library; a multi-level car park structure and a sports hall," he said at the contract signing ceremony here yesterday.

   The extension of the main campus would be completed in October next year while the hostels would be ready in August this year.

   Aziz, who is also Pometia Sdn Bhd director, said the university expected to have 5,000 students by the end of 2010 from the current 1,000 students.

   Pometia Sdn Bhd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sarawak Foundation and Sarawak Higher education Foundation, which owns Swinburne Sarawak Sdn Bhd.

   Aziz inked the contract on behalf of Pometia while PPES Works, a member of the Cahya Mata Sarawak group of companies, was represented by its chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip.

   Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, who is also Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister, witnessed the occasion.

By Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak Campus)
- March 2006.-