Abang Johari (centre) flanked by Subromaniam and Sharifah Halimah pose for a photo in the Chief Minister’s Office

KUCHING: Customs Department is ready to collaborate with the state government in customs management, including meeting needs outlined under the digital economy policy.

This was among the matters discussed during a courtesy call made by Customs Department director-general Malaysia Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg here yesterday.

It was Subromaniam’s first working visit to the state since his appointment in March this year.

He was accompanied by state Customs director Sharifah Halimah Tuanku Tahan and her deputy Musa Hamden during the visit.  The meeting also discussed views and plans to assist the state government in developing Sarawak.

Apart from the courtesy call from Customs top officials, Abang Johari welcomed a delegation from the Cambridge Academy of Therapeutic Sciences yesterday, led by academy director Prof Christopher R Lowe.

The visit was meant to explore working opportunities between the academy and the state government in the field of research and development in Sarawak.

The courtesy call by the academy was in response to Abang Johari’s visit to Cambridge earlier this year, and also another by Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong in October.

Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee and the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Sudarsono Osman were also present.

Another courtesy call on the chief minister yesterday was from Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank), led by group president and chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Farid.

The banking delegates shared with Abang Johari their proposals on collaboration between the bank group and the state government to further enhance the relations between both sides.

Abdul Farid was accompanied by Maybank Sarawak regional director Nasir Khan Istiar Hussain Khan and head of Maybank Wisma Satok branch (community distribution) Abang Jamili Abang Julai.