By DayakDaily Team
LAWAS, July 23: A community-grown Arabica coffee brand developed in the highlands of Long Sukang has been officially handed over to Koperasi Usahasama Long Sukang Lawas Berhad, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen rural entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods in Sarawak.
The handover of the LINAWA brand by PETRONAS signifies the successful completion of the Towards Uplifting Lives Programme (TULiP), a collaborative initiative that has supported the Lun Bawang community in building a sustainable community enterprise over the past five years.
Launched in 2021, TULiP is led by PETRONAS, the Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) Institute of Smart and Sustainable Living (ISSL) and Yayasan Hasanah, with support from the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Peduli Insan and Koperasi Usahasama Long Sukang Lawas Berhad.
community, it reflects their roots, their identity and the land that has sustained generations.
In a media release today, PETRONAS said the programme was designed to strengthen rural livelihoods through entrepreneurship, capacity building and sustainable community enterprise development.
Through TULiP, the Lun Bawang community received support in entrepreneurship training, product innovation, capability enhancement and market access, enabling the development and growth of the LINAWA brand.
Established as a community enterprise, LINAWA was created to enhance the value of locally produced Adan rice and Arabica coffee while generating new income opportunities for highland farmers.
The initiative has helped transform Koperasi Usahasama Long Sukang Lawas Berhad into a structured organisation with 30 members. The cooperative now operates a dedicated processing facility for the collection, roasting, packaging and commercialisation of locally grown coffee.
According to PETRONAS, the programme has also led to a tenfold increase in coffee cultivation since its inception, reflecting growing participation among local farmers and the increasing potential of highland agriculture as a sustainable source of income.
cups.
PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Assets) senior general manager Shalby B. Reduan said the handover reflects the programme’s emphasis on building local capabilities and fostering long-term community-led growth.
“Through TULiP, our focus has been on equipping communities with the right training, entrepreneurial exposure and technical capabilities, enabling them to independently drive and sustain their own economic progress.
“With LINAWA now under the full stewardship of the cooperative, PETRONAS is confident the Lun Bawang community will continue building on the strong foundation established over the past five years and take the brand to even greater heights,” he said during the handover ceremony on July 18.
The transfer of the LINAWA brand represents the culmination of a collaborative effort to create a self-sustaining rural enterprise model that empowers local communities to take ownership of their economic future.
PETRONAS said it remains committed to creating positive social impact through strategic partnerships that empower communities, strengthen resilience and support long-term socio-economic sustainability. — DayakDaily
