By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, May 27: Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) signed a Benefit Sharing Agreement (BSA) with the Melanau communities to develop liquid gold ‘sekiu oil’.
Sekiu oil is extracted from the seed kernel of the Sekiu fruit—Madhuca motleyana from the Sapotacae family, and is consumed as a food flavouring by the Melanau.
The Melanau communities involved in the BSA signing were participants of SBC’s Traditional Knowledge Documentation Programme from Kampung Jemoreng Ulu and Kampung Jemoreng Hilir in Matu and Kampung Penibong in Pulau Bruit, Daro.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak (MEITD) Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said through the BSA, the rights and knowledge of the local communities who have long relied on Sekiu are respected and upheld.
“You (Melanau communities) are very lucky because SBC helps to document the characteristics (of Sekiu), how (the extraction) is done and all that. Perhaps you should look beyond that.
“This partnership also presents an economic significance to the communities by creating an opportunity to promote sustainable livelihoods and fostering responsible trade practices,” he said during Biodiversity Day 2023, held at the SBC compound today.
The BSA on Sekiu was SBC’s third agreement after the first BSA was signed on March 20, 2019, to commercialise LitSara® essential oil. The participating communities were the Bidayuhs of Kpg Kiding, Padawan; the Lun Bawangs of Long Telingan and Long Kerebangan, Lawas; and the Kelabits of Pa’Ukat and Pa’Lungan.
The second BSA was signed on Oct 17, 2022, with the Bidayuh and Iban communities of Kpg Emperoh Semadang along Jalan Borneo Heights and Rumah Simon from Lubok Antu to partner on the development and commercialisation of AdenoSara® essential oil.
Also present during the event were MEITD deputy permanent secretary Anielia Siam; SBC chief executive officer Dr Yeo Tiong Chia; and Sarawak Biodiversity Council members Jack Liam who is Controller of Environmental Quality Sarawak and Prof Datu Dr Andrew Kiyu Dawie who is a professor of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). — DayakDaily
