By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Feb 16: Sarz Al-Yahya Corporation Sdn Bhd will be investing up to RM5 billion within five years starting next year to develop a nipah sap processing industrial complex in Belawai.
Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh said the multibillion-ringgit investment by the private company would also include a large scale nipah plantation.
This, he said, portrays the potential of Sarawak to become a hub for the nipah industry.
“This shows that the industry is well planned with both of its upstream and downstream activities.
“The move by corporate players is most welcome to drive this industry and (we welcome) community players to be well involved in nipah plantation and processing,” he said when debating the Sago and Nipah Development Board Bill, 2022 during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
Miro also pointed out that Sarawak is the only region in Malaysia to form a Sago and Nipah Development Board (SNDB) to look into both the sago and nipah industries, thus voicing his full support for the bill.
The bill which proposes to establish SNDB was tabled by Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and passed earlier today.
The setting up of SNDB is an initiative under the purview of the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development to promote, facilitate and develop the sago and nipah industries as new frontiers to maximise economic returns and increase smallholders’ income.
The Board will also formulate strategic objectives, policies and priorities for the orderly development and administration of both sago and nipah industries in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
