By Amanda L
KUCHING, Aug 23: The Body Shop’s rise from forest resources to a global cosmetics brand could offer a model for Sarawak to commercialise its native plants, including the citrus-scented Litsea cubeba, known locally as Pahkak or Tenem, as a potential perfume source, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg says.
Speaking at the launch of AI for Makers: Borneo Makers Festival 2026 here today, he suggested commercially cultivating the tree and developing its oil into fragrance, with artificial intelligence (AI) helping to explore how its scent could be refined.
“Why don’t we develop Pahkak? We can plant it and produce perfume from it,” he said.
Abang Johari pointed to The Body Shop as an example of how resources derived from forests could be turned into cosmetics and developed into a global business. Sarawak could similarly combine its natural resources with science and technology to create higher-value products.
That same emphasis on applying science and technology to Sarawak’s resources is reflected at the Sarawak Science Centre, where children and young people can gain practical exposure through hands-on exhibits.
The RM200 million facility has attracted nearly 40,000 visitors in a single week, with exhibits showcasing cascading hydropower and solar technology.
The Premier stressed that young Sarawakians needed to be equipped with the scientific and technological skills to study and develop the State’s resources.
“We have resources. We have to use our resources with the knowledge that we have,” he emphasised.
He also urged young people to stay close to technology, highlighting AI’s potential to help them explore Sarawak’s resources and develop new products.
“The future depends on how you command technology,” he said. — DayakDaily
