By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 15: The Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development (M-Ficord) is set to refine its portfolio structure to sharpen its focus on the food and agro-based industries, including a proposal to split the ministry’s portfolio through the appointment of additional ministers to enhance effectiveness and focus.
According to a TVS news report, its minister, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said M-Ficord is not a small ministry, as it currently oversees several major areas, including agriculture, land development, and rural development.
“This ministry is not small. Previously, it covered agriculture, land development, and rural development.
“Moving forward, we may need to reassess the ministry’s portfolio so that each minister can focus more clearly on their respective responsibilities,” he said at the Gemilang Agro-Based Industry Dinner 2026 here on Wednesday (Jan 14).
Dr Rundi said the most suitable time to refine the portfolio would be at the beginning and during the first year of the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), noting that the ministry has already recorded around 800 initiatives within the agro-based industry.
These initiatives include the promotion of value-added products such as dabai-based spaghetti and banana-based products.
He also proposed splitting the ministry’s portfolio through the appointment of additional ministers to allow responsibilities to be shared more effectively.
“This is to ensure responsibilities can be shared more efficiently. The civil service remains the same; what changes is our mindset and approach,” he added.
Dr Rundi stressed that the move is crucial to ensure each sector under M-Ficord receives due attention, in line with current needs and the challenges of developing Sarawak’s food and agro-based industries. — DayakDaily
