By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 17: The planned Furniture Industrial Park in Kuching and Tanjung Manis, which has been approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) with development sites already identified, is now awaiting funding for implementation.
The initiative is seen as a key catalyst to attract new investments while reshaping the local furniture sector, which is still largely dominated by small-scale, family-run enterprises.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the provision of a well-equipped and conducive industrial zone is crucial to meet investors’ needs and drive more structured, sustainable growth in the industry.
“Currently, the furniture industry in Sarawak is not very developed and is often based on family businesses. We do not want it to remain that way.
“We have abundant materials and resources, and that is why we want to develop this Furniture Park to attract investments and further strengthen the industry.
“Our resources are not only from natural forests but increasingly from planted forests, which will support the development of timber-based, high-value products. This puts us in a very conducive position to grow the industry,” he said when met by reporters after the PUSAKA 2026 Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering at Wisma Sumber Alam today.
Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR), added that the furniture industrial park will be implemented in phases, beginning in Kuching before expanding to Tanjung Manis to cover central Sarawak.
At the same time, the Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment noted that Sarawak holds a strong advantage in raw material resources, particularly timber from planted forests, which can support long-term, sustainable industry growth.
“In addition, the use of alternative materials such as bamboo also holds strong potential in the production of high-value furniture,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh shared that approximately 50 acres of land in Kuching have been identified for the development of the proposed furniture park, while the site in Tanjung Manis has yet to be finalised, with about 20 acres currently earmarked.
“God willing, the project will commence this year. Planning is already underway, particularly in terms of infrastructure such as road access, as well as essential utilities including water and electricity. All the necessary groundwork has been put in place,” he said.
Len Talif added that the furniture park is envisioned to position Sarawak’s products for expansion into international markets.
“We have studied furniture industry models both locally and in countries such as China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and across Europe. However, the key is adapting these models to suit Sarawak’s unique context, not just Malaysia as a whole. While Malaysia has a well-established furniture hub in Muar, Sarawak must develop its own model, guided by proven frameworks but tailored to our specific strengths and conditions,” he emphasised.
At the same time, he acknowledged that Sarawak must address several gaps, particularly in supporting industries, logistics and workforce capacity, to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness.
“We need to focus on our core strengths and develop products that will define the park, based on the raw materials available to us. These considerations are crucial. Ultimately, the type of furniture we produce will also be shaped by demand from foreign investors, while leveraging the resources we already have,” he said.
Earlier, Awang Tengah officiated the upgraded lobby of Menara Wisma Sumber Alam.
Also present were MUDeNR permanent secretary Datu Abdullah Julaihi, PUSAKA general manager Datu Zainal Abidin Abdullah, Sarawak Forestry Department director Datu Hamden Mohammad, and other invited guests. — DayakDaily
